Dylan Harper: I Won't Come Off the Bench for Spurs
Spurs rookie Dylan Harper joked with teammate Stephon Castle about winning Sixth Man of the Year, despite being set to start every game this season.
Dylan Harper does not want to hear the words "Sixth Man of the Year" applied to a starter. San Antonio's rookie guard said as much in an interview with GQ, sitting alongside team-mate Stephon Castle.
Harper, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft, helped the Spurs reach the NBA Finals in his debut season while starting just 6 times. He raised the Sixth Man award himself, telling Castle he planned to win it this year.
Castle pushed back, pointing out that Harper is set to start every game this season and has no case for an award reserved for bench players. Harper's response turned into a rant.
"I'm going to win Sixth Man of the Year this year," Harper said.
"You're not winning that, bro," Castle replied.
"I'm going to be Sixth Man of the Year."
"You're not going to be Sixth Man of the Year. Sixth man behind who?"
"I don't know, man. Behind God? What's the politically correct answer here? I'll do whatever the team needs from me. If that means coming off the bench... no, that's ridiculous. No way. I'm not coming off the bench."
Castle closed the exchange with a reminder of where things actually stand.
"Bro, the only thing you need to know is that you're going to be in the starting five. Get ready to play basketball."
The exchange reads as banter between two rookies who reached the Finals together rather than any real dispute over minutes. Both are tipped to anchor San Antonio's backcourt this season, and by all accounts the coaching staff has already settled the question Harper was joking about.
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