Dylan Harper Drawing Comparisons To James Harden

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Dylan Harper Drawing Comparisons To James Harden 

Post#1 » by RealGM Wiretap » Wed Feb 12, 2025 8:08 pm

Dylan Harper is drawing comparison amongst NBA talent evaluators to a young James Harden, reports ESPN's Jonathan Givony. Harper is currently projected to go No. 2 in ESPN's latest mock draft.


Harper recently returned from injury to score 28 points to go with six rebounds and five assists in a win against Illinois.


"The 18-year-old's combination of size, shot-creation prowess, passing creativity, finishing skill and scoring instincts have drawn comparisons in NBA circles to a young James Harden," wrote Givony.


Harper has a PER of 25.1 and a True Shooting Percentage of .583 this season.

Via Jonathan Givony/ESPN

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Re: Dylan Harper Drawing Comparisons To James Harden 

Post#2 » by NBA4Lyfe » Wed Feb 12, 2025 9:56 pm

If he was actually James harden (which I dont believe). He would not be number #2 on draft mocks. He would be legit can't miss number 1 overall pick

Fultz was also compared to harden and went number 1 over Tatum

There is no harden prospect in this class
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Re: Dylan Harper Drawing Comparisons To James Harden 

Post#3 » by ecuhus1981 » Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:01 pm

NBA4Lyfe wrote:If he was actually James harden (which I dont believe). He would not be number #2 on draft mocks. He would be legit can't miss number 1 overall pick

Fultz was also compared to harden and went number 1 over Tatum

There is no harden prospect in this class

This is flimsy logic. Harper is projected 2nd in THIS draft, only because he's in a draft where the #1 guy is considered by many to be the 2nd best prospect in the last 10 drafts. In other years, like this past draft, he would have been 1st.

All that said, I think Dylan compares more closely to Brandon Roy in terms of play style. I think there's a chance that he can be an MVP-caliber player like the Beard, he just plays more like Roy IMO in the way he drives and surveys.
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Re: Dylan Harper Drawing Comparisons To James Harden 

Post#4 » by Cassius » Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:17 pm

ecuhus1981 wrote:
NBA4Lyfe wrote:If he was actually James harden (which I dont believe). He would not be number #2 on draft mocks. He would be legit can't miss number 1 overall pick

Fultz was also compared to harden and went number 1 over Tatum

There is no harden prospect in this class

This is flimsy logic. Harper is projected 2nd in THIS draft, only because he's in a draft where the #1 guy is considered by many to be the 2nd best prospect in the last 10 drafts. In other years, like this past draft, he would have been 1st.

All that said, I think Dylan compares more closely to Brandon Roy in terms of play style. I think there's a chance that he can be an MVP-caliber player like the Beard, he just plays more like Roy IMO in the way he drives and surveys.


Sheesh. It would be a fun poll question to ask who people would pick between a hypothetical Brandon Roy with good knees or the ironman James Harden we've experienced. I prefer Roy for his intangibles but either way, if Harper becomes 80% of either one of those guys and stays healthy, that's an excellent get at #2.
I_Like_Dirt wrote:The whole comparison to Kevin McHale is ridiculously close, imo... And that's without more hilarious aspects of the comparison, e.g. if Wally Sczerbiak were 7 feet tall with the slower reflexes that came with the additional height, he'd be Bargnani.

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