AJ Dybantsa is still a year away from suiting up in the Summer League, but that has not stopped him from turning heads in Las Vegas.
The projected top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft has been showing up courtside, soaking in the action and connecting with some of the brightest young names in the game. One of them is San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper.
What Did AJ Dybantsa and Dylan Harper’s Summer League Reunion Reveal?
Dybantsa was at the Thomas & Mack Center to watch the Spurs hand the Detroit Pistons a 96–84 loss in one of the NBA 2K26 Summer League consolation games.
While there, the top high school prospect caught up with Harper, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The official Summer League Instagram page shared a series of photos showing the Spurs rookie greeting Dybantsa, who attended the game with his father.
View this post on Instagram
Dybantsa also shared the moment on his Instagram story, posting a photo of the two with a simple one-word caption for Harper: “blooda🤞🏾.”
Harper was not on the floor during the Spurs’ win. After two strong outings, the team shut him down for the rest of the Summer League. He averaged 16 points, four rebounds, and two assists in games against the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz.
Still, he was very much present off the court, where his growing friendship with Dybantsa continues to take shape. The two have been building a bond away from the spotlight, and Dybantsa has not been shy about leaning on Harper for guidance as he prepares for his next step at BYU.
“I talked to Dylan Harper… Dylan told me to get in shape before you even get there,” Dybantsa said back in March on the “Hold My Banner” podcast.
Dybantsa and Harper are still early in their journeys, but are already learning and lifting each other up.
How Did Dybantsa’s Meeting With Kevin Garnett Impact His Summer League Experience?
Dybantsa had another big moment at the Summer League when he talked with NBA legend Kevin Garnett. The two were seen courtside, locked in conversation, with Dybantsa listening closely to the Hall of Famer.
Garnett seemed to reflect on how the game has changed over the years. “Want a foul going out like you want, I used to love that,” he said, possibly talking about how physical the game used to be. Back in his day, players had to fight through contact just to get a whistle.
Kevin Garnett & AJ Dybantsa chatting it up at #NBA2KSummerLeague 💯 pic.twitter.com/dKDVQjHmba
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2025
He added that today’s referees call the game differently and a lot quicker, suggesting the league has become less physical.
Keep Reading: AJ Dybantsa Unpacks How Much Truth Is There to the Kevin Durant Comparisons
For Dybantsa, it was a chance to learn from one of the greats. And with many already comparing his game to Garnett’s, it felt like a fitting exchange between a legend and a rising star.
