Rookie San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper left Sunday’s game against the Phoenix Suns in a walking boot and on crutches, according to ESPN’s Michael C. Wright.
“I believe it’s something with this calf, but I don’t have anything as of yet,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said after the game, via Wright.
While it’s not exactly known when and how Harper hurt his calf, Wright suspects that the injury took place when the 19-year-old landed under the basket after failing to block a shot from Suns center Nick Richards. The incident in question occurred when the Suns had a 48-37 lead with 5:02 remaining in the first half.
“Harper winced after walking toward the bench,” wrote Wright. “Upon checking out, the rookie headed to the locker room with a member of San Antonio’s medical staff.”
Concerning News for Spurs
According to Dusty Garza of FOX San Antonio, Harper could miss extended time based on the severity of his injury.
“Spurs rookie Dylan Harper- seen on the bench wearing a boot after exiting with a left-calf injury- has been averaging 14.4 pts, 4.6 rebs, and 4.6 asts over his first 5 games.
The key now is severity. Calf injuries can cause you to miss from a couple of weeks to a few months.”
Through another tweet, Garza wrote that there was an element of mystery in Harper’s injury as he was not seen limping after the failed block attempt in the first half.
“Dylan Harper came in, dropped 12 in 11 minutes, and just like that… gone,” he wrote. “Nobody saw what happened. No limp, no collision. A ghost calf injury?”
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama said the team was hoping for the best.
“Yeah, I hope the best for him, for sure,” Wemby said of Harper’s injury, via ESPN.
“We’ve seen great things from him. It’s actually been hard to believe how good he’s played. But it happens. We have to be able to deal with injuries. But at the same time, we’re going to get some guys back.”
Dylan Harper, a ROTY Candidate
Spurs Insider, another popular X account, speculated that Harper may have suffered an Achilles-related injury due to the non-contact nature of his injury.
“Though I’m not a sports medicine doctor, I fear an achilles related injury for Dylan Harper,” he wrote.
“He drops his left foot back, allowing the heel to drop and fully contact the ground before challenging Richards. For Harper and the Spurs sake, I hope it’s only a strain.”
The unfortunate injury notwithstanding, Harper has been balling in the first few weeks of his rookie season, firmly establishing himself as a candidate for Rookie of the Year.
Harper, fourth on the Spurs in scoring, is averaging 14.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals through five games. In NBA.com’s latest KIA Rookie Ladder, Harper came in at No. 3, behind VJ Edgecombe and Cedric Coward.
“Five-time NBA champion Ron Harper was 42 when his son Dylan was born, so we had no shot at ever seeing a LeBron/Bronny pairing on an active roster,” wrote Steve Aschburner. “But the five-time champion’s genes are alive and well in the Spurs rookie, who already looks savvy beyond his years. He ranks in the Top 5 among rookies in seven stats categories.”
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