Spurs’ Rookie Prospect Dylan Harper Faces Early Career Setback with Thumb Injury
In a significant blow to the San Antonio Spurs’ preseason preparations, rookie guard Dylan Harper—the second overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft—has undergone surgery to repair a partially torn ligament in his left thumb. The injury occurred during a workout on Wednesday, with the surgical procedure taking place just two days later on Friday. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the organization remains cautiously optimistic that Harper will be available for the team’s season opener against the Dallas Mavericks on October 22, which would pit him against number one overall pick Cooper Flagg in what promises to be a closely watched matchup of the draft’s top talents.
This setback comes during an NBA offseason that has been particularly marked by injuries and surgical procedures across the league. For the Spurs, Harper’s injury is especially concerning as he represents a cornerstone of their rebuilding efforts. The timing is particularly unfortunate as training camps are set to begin across the NBA, with teams looking to integrate new pieces and establish chemistry before the regular season begins. Harper’s absence from these crucial early practice sessions could potentially slow his adjustment to the professional game and delay his ability to develop on-court rapport with teammates.
The thumb injury, while not as devastating as some of the more serious ailments that can sideline players for entire seasons, still presents significant challenges for a rookie guard. The thumb is essential for ball handling, shooting mechanics, and defensive play—all critical aspects of Harper’s game that made him such a coveted prospect in the draft. The recovery timeline suggests a six-week healing process, placing his return right around the beginning of the regular season if all goes according to plan. However, even after returning to action, Harper may need additional time to regain full comfort and confidence in his repaired thumb, potentially affecting his early-season performance.
For the Spurs organization, this injury represents yet another challenge in what has been a rebuilding period following the end of their dynasty years. After selecting French phenom Victor Wembanyama with the first pick in the 2023 draft, adding Harper was meant to provide another foundational talent to accelerate their return to contention. The silver lining for San Antonio is that the timing of the injury allows Harper to undergo rehabilitation during the preseason rather than missing significant regular season action. Team medical staff will likely implement a careful rehabilitation program designed to strengthen the thumb while maintaining Harper’s overall conditioning and basketball skills through modified workouts.
The highly anticipated matchup between Harper and Cooper Flagg—who went to the Mavericks with the first overall pick—adds another layer of intrigue to Harper’s recovery timeline. The in-state rivalry between Dallas and San Antonio has always been intense, and having the top two picks from the 2025 draft face off in the season opener would generate tremendous excitement for basketball fans in Texas and nationwide. While the Spurs organization is publicly expressing confidence in Harper’s availability for this marquee matchup, they will undoubtedly prioritize his long-term health over a single game, regardless of its symbolic importance.
This injury serves as a reminder of the physical challenges even the most promising young athletes face when transitioning to the professional level. The increased intensity of NBA workouts, combined with the pressure to perform immediately as a high draft pick, places enormous physical demands on rookies. For Harper, this early career adversity provides an opportunity to demonstrate his resilience and commitment to the rehabilitation process—qualities that often define successful NBA careers as much as natural talent. As the season approaches, all eyes will be on his recovery progress and whether he can indeed make his professional debut against Flagg and the Mavericks, beginning what many expect to be an exciting new chapter in the storied Spurs franchise.
