With the NBA Draft just over two weeks away, the basketball world is buzzing with anticipation, especially after the lottery delivered a stunning outcome. The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs landed the top two picks, setting the stage for Duke’s Cooper Flagg to likely join the Mavericks and Rutgers’ Dylan Harper to team up with the Spurs. While the top two selections seem nearly locked in, the rest of the draft remains a wild card, with one name generating as much chatter as Harper: his Rutgers teammate, Ace Bailey.
Both Harper and Bailey are widely regarded as top-five talents by draft evaluators, but their stock soared even higher after an unexpected endorsement from none other than Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry. In a quote recently resurfaced by the NBA Draft’s X/Twitter page, Curry shared glowing praise for the Rutgers duo during the season, offering insights that have left fans and analysts stunned by his foresight.
“Those two guys individually, obviously, they’re super talented, but talent can only take you so far,” Curry said. “Like, what’s your mentality about how much better can you get? How hard do you work? Are you coachable? Stuff like that, and they showed that.”
Curry didn’t stop there. He singled out Harper for his competitive fire, recalling a memorable moment from a pick-up game. “Dylan especially, he was funny, he guarded me in a couple pick-up runs we had, I might not have scored on him, and I think he was mic’ed up or something, and he was counting my stats in our matchup,” Curry recounted with a laugh. “But you love that competitiveness, because they’re there to get better.”
Pro recognition is major 👀
Steph Curry on 2025 Draft prospects Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/GGOEVI1syY
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) June 10, 2025
For Harper, the draft is shaping up to be a dream scenario. Landing with the Spurs means joining forces with Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle—a dynamic young core that could dominate the league for years to come. His blend of skill, work ethic, and tenacity makes him a perfect fit for San Antonio’s burgeoning roster.
Meanwhile, Bailey’s draft position is less certain but no less intriguing. Many mock drafts project him as the third overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers, where his elite scoring ability could complement their roster. However, opinions on Bailey vary, with some scouts questioning whether he’ll live up to the hype. Still, his raw talent ensures he’s unlikely to fall out of the top five.
As the draft approaches, Curry’s words have added fuel to the excitement surrounding Harper and Bailey. His ability to spot not just talent but the intangibles that define greatness has everyone talking. Could these two Rutgers stars be the next big thing in the NBA? If Steph Curry’s prediction is any indication, the league might be in for something special.