No.2 overall pick Dylan Harper joins Jared McCain, Jordan Clarkson, Jalen Green and Raymond Townsend as the only players with Filipino heritage in NBA history 🇵đź‡đź”Ą…….
SAN ANTONIO, TX — In a historic moment at the 2025 NBA Draft, Rutgers standout Dylan Harper was selected with the No. 2 overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs. Not only is this pick monumental for the Spurs as they continue their youth-focused rebuild, but it also marks a proud moment for the Filipino basketball community: Harper becomes one of just five players in NBA history with Filipino heritage—joining Jared McCain, Jordan Clarkson, Jalen Green, and Raymond Townsend.
Harper’s Rise: From Rutgers to the Spurs
At Rutgers, Harper emerged as one of collegiate basketball’s brightest prospects. Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing around 215 pounds, he averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game as a freshman—earning Third Team All‑Big Ten and a spot on the Big Ten All‑Freshman Team .
Harper’s family pedigree is steeped in basketball legacy. His father, Ron Harper Sr., won five NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers . Meanwhile, his mother, Maria Pizarro Harper—born in Bataan, Philippines—played Division I basketball and coached high school basketball in New Jersey . Harper’s Filipino lineage extends further: his maternal grandfather represented the country at the 1968 Olympics .
A Proud Moment for Filipino Basketball
Harper is only the fifth player of Filipino heritage to step into the NBA, joining:
Raymond Townsend, the first Filipino-American in NBA history, drafted in 1978 by the Golden State Warriors .
Jordan Clarkson, the 2014 Sixth Man of the Year and a naturalized Filipino citizen, currently playing for the Utah Jazz .
Jalen Green, top pick of the 2021 draft by the Houston Rockets, whose mother has Filipino ancestry .
Jared McCain, drafted No. 16 in 2024 by the Philadelphia 76ers, who has about 10% Filipino heritage through his mother .
Across social media, supporters of Philippine basketball celebrated Harper’s selection with pride. Posts highlighted the symbolic joining of these five talents on the NBA stage , praising it as a “Filipino roots, global game” moment .
Spurs Court Vision: What Harper Brings
San Antonio sees in Harper a dynamic combo guard with strong finishing instincts—he shot 70% in the paint during his Rutgers season . With playmaking skills reminiscent of NBA stars Cade Cunningham, James Harden, and Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander, he’s expected to complement Victor Wembanyama’s ascent .
Draft analysts praised the Spurs for staying the course amid trade rumors involving Kevin Durant, reflecting organizational confidence in Harper’s long-term potential .
Heritage Meets Hope
Beyond the court, Harper’s selection resonates strongly among Filipino and Filipino-America fans. His path underscores growing diasporic representation at the highest levels of basketball. Filipino basketball leagues and networks, such as ABS‑CBN and SLAM magazine, spotlighted his Filipino grandparents and post-draft family celebrations .
Harper has also expressed interest in his Filipino roots—highlighting his grandmother’s chicken adobo, and discussing the possibility of playing internationally for the Philippines in the future .
Looking Ahead
Now a Spur, Harper joins a storied franchise known for developing generational talent. With San Antonio’s supportive environment and his strong basketball upbringing, analysts expect a steep growth trajectory.
For the Filipino basketball world, Harper’s ascent is another shining sign of global impact. As fellow heritage stars Clarkson, Green, and McCain continue their NBA journeys—and Townsend’s legacy endures—Harper’s entry reaffirms the growing bridge between Philippine roots and NBA success.
Harper’s selection celebrates athletic excellence, family legacy, and cultural pride—a story that transcends the pick itself, inspiring communities across both continents and futures.