Spurs guard Dylan Harper said he'll enter the nationally televised opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night "very confident" in his outside shot after hitting a team-high 57.1% from 3-point range on 3.5 attempts in the preseason.
The Spurs host the Blazers in a rematch of the 2026 Western Conference finals, won by the Spurs in seven games, at 8:30 p.m. at the Frost Bank Center.
"I've worked at it all summer, so there's no reason for me to be hesitant," Harper said of his perimeter shooting. "No reason to pull back. Biggest thing is just taking the right shots at the right time."
The 20-year-old second-year pro drafted No. 2 overall in 2025 led the Spurs in preseason scoring with a 14.8 average after tallying 19 points against the Sacramento Kings on 7 of 12 from the field (3 of 6 from distance) in a 126-97 victory on Friday in the preseason finale. Last season, he hit 34.3% from downtown on 2.6 attempts on his way to averaging 11.8 points.
"Through the year last year, (his outside shot) was incrementally improving, and he's a ridiculously talented young player who has really matured and really started to build a foundation of habits," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said.
With the Spurs starting a speedy, downhill three-guard lineup of Harper, De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle to go along with Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama, the team needs Harper to shoot well from deep to help spread the floor.
"I think shooting from the perimeter was a big thing for me" to work on in the offseason, Harper said. "And I think just getting more comfortable with my shot, get more comfortable shooting off the dribble, and just try to be as efficient as I can."
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There’s more to San Antonio with the Express-News. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Dylan Harper expects to start season with hot hand.