By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Dylan Harper validated his on-court comparisons to Hall of Fame guard and special advisor to the basketball operations for the San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili.
During a Tuesday press conference ahead of the NBA Finals 2026, the 20-year-old guard fully embraced the parallel. “I think it’s an accurate comparison. We’re both lefties, big guards,” he mentioned. “I’ve had a lot of conversations with him, especially when I first got here. Me and him kind of talked a lot about, like, the role of the team and like what to do, things of that nature. And I think that more than anyone for me, he’s kind of been that vet that’s been around the Spurs for a long time and kind of giving me insight into what he’s been through.”
The rookie further analyzed their matching offensive playstyles and ability to drive through the defense. “I think the Eurostep is coming naturally to both of us,” he added. “I feel like we’re both dynamic getting downhill. And obviously, I think he had a little bit more flair. But I think we both kind of just know how to get to the rim is know how to carve out space.”
Meanwhile, the league announced the officiating crew selected to work the championship series of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, between the Spurs and the New York Knicks, which tips off on Wednesday in San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center. The twelve-man referee pool consists of Scott Foster officiating his 19th Finals, Tony Brothers and Marc Davis making their 15th appearance, James Capers in his 14th, Zach Zarba in his 13th, John Goble in his 10th, Josh Tiven in his 7th, James Williams in his 6th, Courtney Kirkland in his 5th, Sean Wright in his 3rd, Tyler Ford in his 2nd, and Curtis Blair in his debut.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 4-3 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113, 88-94, 116-109, 93-79, 116-94)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 4-3 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93, 125-120, 110-112, 114-102)
New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 4-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98, 126-97, 140-89)
Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-4 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96, 97-113, 93-106, 100-109)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Cleveland Cavaliers 3-4 (111-101, 107-97, 109-116, 103-112, 113-117, 115-94, 94-125)
New York Knicks – Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 (137-98, 108-102, 108-94, 144-114)
Finals (best-of-seven)
New York Knicks – Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 (115-104, 109-93, 121-108, 130-93)
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 4-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109, 131-122)
Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 4-2 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115, 93-99, 98-78)
Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 2-4 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112, 125-113, 98-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93, 114-95)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 (108-90, 125-107, 131-108, 115-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 (102-104, 133-95, 115-108, 109-114, 126-97, 139-109)
Finals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – San Antonio Spurs 3-4 (115-122, 122-113, 123-108, 82-103, 127-114, 91-118, 103-111)
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
San Antonio Spurs – New York Knicks
Make