San Antonio Spurs No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper underwent successful surgery on Friday for a partially torn ligament in his left thumb. The injury occurred during an offseason workout and is considered minor. The Spurs are optimistic that he will be able to return for the season opener against the Dallas Mavericks on October 22.

Harper, the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and the son of five-time NBA champion guard Ron Harper, proved his talent in just one year at Rutgers University, becoming an undisputed top-five pick.

Since joining the Spurs, he has demonstrated a strong competitive spirit and team spirit. General Manager Brian Wright previously commented, " You can tell he knows he's a good player, but more importantly, he's willing to give and sacrifice for the team. "

Harper played two games for the Spurs in this year's NBA Summer League, averaging 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. Against Cooper Flagg's Mavericks, Harper made his first appearance of the season in four months. He admitted that he " was smiling the whole time, just happy to be back on the court . "

Not only that, his performance on the defensive end was equally eye-catching. His teammate rookie Carter Bryant even called him " one of the top perimeter defenders in this draft . "

It's worth mentioning that Harper also missed the California Classic this summer due to a minor calf injury, but the team doesn't consider these two injuries to be long-term concerns. Next, he will focus on the rehabilitation of his thumb.