Spurs' Carter Bryant makes bold Rookie of the Year prediction
The odds that a player on the San Antonio Spurs will win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award for the third straight year are slim. Don't tell that to Carter Bryant though. The No. 14 overall pick says if he doesn't win the award, that means his new teammate, No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper, will have beaten him to the punch.
Advertisement
'I mean, one of us is gonna get it, so whether it's one or two or whoever gets it, it doesn't matter,' Bryant said. 'I'm just trying to win basketball games at a high level.'
After Victor Wembanyama became the third player in Spurs history to win the honor, Stephon Castle doubled the franchise's ROTY tally by taking home the trophy this past season. Bryant isn't alone in thinking this, as Harper also sees the possibility for a three-peat.
'I mean, definitely, I think that's definitely a goal of mine is to make it three in a row,' Harper said. 'And I think the coaching staff and I think the players are gonna probably make it easy for me to go out there and showcase my talent. So, definitely.'
Advertisement
Carter Bryant, Dylan Harper prepare for 2025-26 campaign with Spurs
While San Antonio missed out on the playoffs last season, it's clear they are a team on the rise in the Western Conference. If Harper and Bryant can come in and make an impact right away, the Spurs could quickly emerge as one of the top teams in the West. Harper knows transitioning from college to the pros will be difficult, but he's excited to make that jump.
'It's definitely an adjustment,' Harper has already said of his upcoming transition to the NBA, 'In my head I'm thinking, 'This is really my college (experience),' because Rutgers was right down the road, 50 minutes. That's like high school part two for me. But, now officially being far away, just excited. Honestly, ready for this new journey in my life and I'm gonna take it with grace and I'm also just gonna be happy wherever I end up.'
Perhaps making things easier, this is a journey Harper will take alongside his friend Bryant.
Advertisement
'I'm looking forward to playing with my guy, D. Harp,' Bryant continued. 'I mean, it's been a long time coming. We had a lot of conversations throughout high school whether we all were trying to play together in college, just maybe playing together at some point. So, for him, to be my draft buddy and being able to both go in the lottery and be able to represent San Antonio is dope.'
That Harper and Bryant are playing specifically for the Spurs matters to both guys.
'Man, I feel great. I feel good. I almost cried, 'Harper admitted. 'Everything, in just every emotion you could possibly feel I felt during that moment. I was ready to get with that organization man. Ready to get things rolling I'm just super excited and happy and just always grateful for everything.'
'Definitely,' Bryant added. 'I think I just want to bring more attention to whatever organization I was blessed to be drafted by. But obviously San Antonio just has a rich history of having a lot of intention behind everything they do.'
Advertisement
The Spurs had every intention of drafting Dylan Harper. They targeted him knowing that the Dallas Mavericks would take Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick. They didn't think Carter Bryant would be available when they were back on the clock at 14, to the point where they considered trading up to get him.
With perhaps the best haul of any team in the 2025 draft, San Antonio has added key pieces to what was already a promising young core. Whether one beats out Flagg – or the other – for Rookie of the Year remains to be seen.
Related: Spurs' Dylan Harper opens up on learning from Bronny James, Shedeur Sanders
Related: Spurs' Victor Wembanyama-De'Aaron Fox duo gets excited take from ex-player
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kyle Shanahan: Jake Moody's still competing with whoever's out there
The 49ers released veteran kicker Greg Joseph on Monday, but head coach Kyle Shanahan stopped short of saying that means Jake Moody will definitely be handling the kicking duties in the season opener. Shanahan said that "roster numbers" led to the decision to cut Joseph because the 49ers need healthy bodies at other spots at this point in training camp. Shanahan said he would have liked to see the competition play out longer under different circumstances, but said he thinks Moody knows that he is still competing against the larger pool of available kickers. "Whether you have one kicker in the building or two, which you rarely have two, kickers always know they're competing with whoever's out there," Shanahan said, via "I don't see it much different." Moody was a 2023 third-round pick and he's gone 45-of-59 on field goals through his first two seasons.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lynx All-Star Napheesa Collier will reportedly miss multiple weeks with an ankle sprain
Minnesota Lynx All-Star Napheesa Collier will miss at least two weeks due to a sprained right ankle sustained on Saturday against the Las Vegas Aces, ESPN's Kendra Andrews reports. Imaging revealed that Collier avoided major injury, according to the report. This story will be updated.
New York Times
28 minutes ago
- New York Times
Jaguars' initial depth chart lists Travis Hunter as starting WR, second team CB
Travis Hunter made his ambitions very clear during the draft process. The dual-threat standout was vocal about his desire to play offense and defense in the NFL, just as he did collegiately at the University of Colorado. Ahead of their preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, the Jacksonville Jaguars released their first depth chart of the preseason. Hunter, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is listed as a starting wide receiver and a backup cornerback. 'It's weird, it's probably harder logistically for us as coaches to navigate it and making sure we're making use of all his time,' Jaguars coach Liam Coen said at the start of training camp. 'I think it doesn't bother him as much. He's pretty unfazed by some of this stuff.' Hunter started training camp working more with the offense, trying to get a rapport going with quarterback Trevor Lawrence. But he's also done more work with the defense as camp progressed. Hunter is not only bouncing between the offense and defense on the field, but also in the meeting rooms. 'I'd probably say mentally, because you've got two playbooks,' Hunter said when asked if going both sides was harder physically or mentally. 'You've got to do different terms each and every day. I'd say the playbook.' Advertisement The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner had 96 receptions for 1,258 yards while catching 15 touchdowns last year at Colorado, as well as 11 passes defended with four interceptions. Brian Thomas Jr. and Dyami Brown are listed as the other starting wide receivers alongside Hunter. Tyson Campbell is the top outside cornerback listed, with Jarrian Jones and Hunter listed interchangeably as the second or third outside cornerbacks.
