Photo: Peter Baba

Dylan Harper voiced frustration earlier during his rookie season with the San Antonio Spurs over his playing time, and expectations are growing that his camp could push more aggressively for a starting role ahead of next season.

The No. 2 overall pick from last year’s draft saw his role expand steadily throughout the season as he gained confidence and experience at the NBA level.

Harper delivered the biggest performance of his young career in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, becoming just the sixth rookie in league history to score 25 points in an elimination game on the championship stage, despite San Antonio falling 4-1 to the New York Knicks.

His strong finish to the season has fueled widespread debate among fans, many of whom have called for changes in the Spurs’ backcourt rotation.

Harper’s emergence has led some supporters to argue that he deserves a starting opportunity next season after proving capable of performing in high-pressure situations.

Harper reflected on the Finals experience after the season ended, emphasizing the lessons learned from the playoff run.

“I definitely learned a lot in this playoff run,” said Harper. “A whole lot to grow on, a whole lot to learn. Can’t keep moving forward if you don’t have a positive attitude. We lost and I wanted to win. We’ve got to bounce back.”

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