In a night filled with emotion, milestones, and a proud nod to heritage, Dylan Harper etched his name in basketball history as the San Antonio Spurs selected him second overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, held at the Barclays Center in New York City.
Harper, the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and his Filipino wife Maria, became only the second player of Filipino descent to be chosen with the No. 2 pick, joining Jalen Green in that elite company.
“It’s surreal,” Harper said moments after hearing his name called. “With my mom’s Filipino roots and the sacrifices her family made for me, I just wanted to represent them and stay true to who I am. This moment is for them.”
The 6-foot-6 combo guard is the fifth player with Filipino heritage to be drafted into the NBA, alongside Green, Jordan Clarkson, Raymond Townsend, and Jared McCain. He’s also expected to form a dynamic backcourt in San Antonio with 2024 Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama, as the Spurs look to transform their promising core into a championship-caliber team.
A night of surprises and global flavor
While Cooper Flagg went first overall to the Dallas Mavericks, several other storylines stole the spotlight throughout the night.
South Sudanese sensation Khaman Maluach, who turned heads during the 2023 FIBA World Cup in the Philippines, went 10th overall to the Phoenix Suns—a pick they obtained in the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade. That same deal also brought former NBTC alumnus Jalen Green to the desert.
But perhaps the biggest shock of the night came when the Portland Trail Blazers traded down with Memphis to pick Chinese center Yang Hansen at No. 16. Once viewed as a second-rounder, Yang skyrocketed up draft boards in recent weeks and cashed in with a first-round nod.
Meanwhile, the reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder refused to rest on their laurels. Thanks to savvy trades, they moved up in the draft and snagged Thomas Sorber at No. 15 and Nique Clifford at No. 24, bolstering an already loaded young core.
The host franchise, Brooklyn Nets, made waves of their own by amassing five first-round picks, headlined by Russian standout Egor Demin at No. 8.
A global game, a Filipino moment
While the night showcased the NBA’s international reach, it was Harper’s emotional nod to his Filipino roots that resonated deeply with fans back home and around the world. For a country where basketball is a way of life, Harper’s rise isn’t just another draft story—it’s a dream realized, a legacy continued, and a symbol of pride for generations of Filipino hoop fans.