<p id=”par-1_57″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/san-antonio-spurs-guard-dylan-harpers-girlfriend-jojo-lacey.html/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Dylan Harper</a> entered the national spotlight as one of the most <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/celebrity-athletes/?swcfpc=1″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>highly regarded basketball prospects</a> in the country and was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the second overall pick in the 2025 <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/sports/?swcfpc=1″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>NBA</a> Draft. During his rookie campaign, Dylan averaged nearly 12 points and close to four assists per game while earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors. </p>
<p id=”par-2_30″>He has stated that his success is rooted in his upbringing, as he grew up in a household where sports, hard work, and family values were central to everyday life.</p>
<p id=”par-3_6″>Here’s more about Dylan’s parents. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-both-of-dylan-s-parents-played-basketball”>Both of Dylan’s parents played basketball</h2>
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<p id=”par-4_28″>Dylan is the son of Maria Harper and former NBA player Ron Harper. His father is African-American, while his mother is Filipina and hails from Bataan, Philippines.</p>
<p id=”par-5_104″>Ron played for 15 years in the league and enjoyed a very successful career. In 1986, he was selected with the eighth overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ron quickly established himself as one of the league’s most versatile guards. He also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Chicago Bulls, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Known for his size, defensive ability, and basketball IQ, Ron became one of the most respected role players of his era. During his career, he won five NBA championships–three alongside Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the 1990s and two with the Lakers during the early 2000s. </p>
<p id=”par-6_16″>While Ron’s accomplishments on the court are well documented, less is known about Dylan’s mother. </p>
<p id=”par-7_60″>Maria (née Pizarro) is an athlete as well. She immigrated to the United States at the age of 7 and was raised in Paterson, New Jersey. She played NCAA Division I basketball for the University of New Orleans and has been a major driving force behind her son’s basketball career, actively instilling Filipino values like hard work, discipline, and grit.</p>
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<iframe title=”Future NBA Star DYLAN HARPER Tries FILIPINO Snacks!” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/ax6Y8xQV-_w?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-dylan-s-grandfather-represented-the-philippines-in-the-olympics”>Dylan’s grandfather represented the Philippines in the Olympics</h2>
<p id=”par-8_44″>Dylan’s older brother, Ron Harper Jr., is also a basketball player. Like Dylan, he played at Rutgers University before joining the NBA. He’s currently a shooting guard for the Boston Celtics and has had stints with the Toronto Raptors and the Detroit Pistons. </p>
<p id=”par-9_16″>The Harper brothers also have a grandfather who competed at the Olympics in another sport. </p>
<p id=”par-10_77″>Maria’s father, Manuel Pizarro, represented the Philippines in jai alai during the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, when Basque pelota, including jai alai, was featured as an Olympic demonstration sport. Jai alai is a fast-paced game that takes place on a granite or concrete court called a fronton where players use a curved, wicker basket (called a cesta) strapped to their wrist to catch and hurl a hard rubber ball (a pelota) against a wall. </p>
<p id=”par-11_53″>Growing up in such an accomplished family gave Dylan access to invaluable sports knowledge from his father’s championship experience to his mother’s guidance and support. And because of his heritage, Dylan has often been recognized as part of a growing group of athletes who proudly represent multiple cultural backgrounds in American sports.<br> </p>