Who is Dylan Harper’s father? Ron Harper connection fuels Spurs rookie’s NBA Finals run

Dylan Harper is making his NBA Finals debut during his rookie season, as the San Antonio Spurs guard took on the New York Knicks in a rematch of the 1999 Finals. Game 1 was on Wednesday, June 3 in San Antonio .

The former Rutgers standout has been a key element of the Spurs' playoff run. He made a statement in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder . Harper had a standout night with 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals. At 20 years old, he became the youngest player to notch a prestigious 4x5 game in the NBA playoffs.

People might be wondering where he gets his skills, and it turns out he has good genes.

San Antonio hosted Game 1 of the NBA Finals as Knicks fans made their presence felt on the road. See the familiar faces supporting New York during the opening game of the series. Above, American actor and comedian Ben Stiller reacts during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center on June 03, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.

Yes, Dylan Harper is related to Ron Harper. The Spurs rookie is the son of the five-time NBA champion. Ron played 15 years in the NBA. He was teammates with Michael Jordan and won three titles with the Chicago Bulls from 1996-1998. He also played with Kobe Bryant and finished his career winning back-to-back championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000 and 2001.

Both Dylan and Ron were named to the All-Rookie team for their impressive accomplishments in their first professional seasons.

Dylan's older brother, Ron Harper Jr., plays in the NBA as well. He was the first brother to play at Rutgers and has spent time with the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons , and he is currently on the Boston Celtics .

Ron's ex-wife and the mother of his two sons is Maria Harper. She has basketball in her blood, too, and played at the University of New Orleans.