Dylan Harper gets candid about inevitable Bronny James parallels due to pressure of carrying father Ron Harper's NBA legacy

Dylan Harper, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, is the son of Ron Harper, who won five NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Dylan had the spotlight on him at Rutgers, and that's set to intensify once he begins his professional career.

During Thursday’s episode of the "7 PM in Brooklyn" podcast, Harper spoke about dealing with pressure and criticism. He brought up the example of LeBron James' son, Bronny.

“Everyone is their own person," he said (52:50 mark). "Bronny [James] ain’t the most outspoken person. … At the end of the day, you still get the same backlash no matter what you do, whether it’s right or wrong. We’re the next generation. There’s always going to be a spotlight on no matter what. Just being you, honestly. That’s how I look at it.”

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Bronny James was one of the most scrutinized prospects leading into the 2024 draft. Rich Paul, the Jameses’ agent, stirred controversy by reportedly telling teams that Bronny would not play for any team except the Lakers or the Phoenix Suns. ESPN analyst Bob Myers claimed that Bronny would take his talents to Australia if he landed outside his preferred destinations. Eventually, the Lakers picked the former Trojan at No. 55.

Dylan Harper has not experienced the same kind of scrutiny. He was the consensus second-best prospect based on mock drafts, just behind Cooper Flagg, who went No. 1 to Dallas. The San Antonio Spurs drafted Harper with the No. 2 pick.

Dylan Harper claims he is better than his father “at everything” in basketball

Before the 2025 NBA draft, ESPN’s Taylor Rooks had a chat with the top prospects, including Dylan Harper.

Rooks asked the former Rutgers star to compare his game to his father, Ron Harper. The 19-year-old did not hold back in his response.

"I mean, my dad definitely was a great player. My dad scored the ball, passed the ball, played defense, but ... I like to always have the utmost confidence in myself, so I'm saying I'm a little better at everything than him.”

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Dylan Harper did concede that the former Chicago Bulls great was the better rebounder, though.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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Edited by Michael Macasero