Top NBA Draft Prospect Compared to Knicks Star

The New York Knicks could see a clone of one of their own players enter the league next season.
Jan 25, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Dylan Harper (2) dribbles as Michigan State Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Jan 25, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Dylan Harper (2) dribbles as Michigan State Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson has emerged into one of the top players in the NBA, earning himself a spot in the starting lineup in next month's All-Star Game for the first time in his career.

However, there might be someone on his way into the league trying to take his gig someday.

Bleacher Report draft analyst Jonathan Wasserman compared Rutgers point guard and potential No. 1 overall pick Dylan Harper to Brunson.

"Despite some recent off games, some of which the flu and an ankle injury have influenced, Dylan Harper has turned scouts into believers with enough shotmaking and playmaking to complement his effectiveness getting to spots and finishing at the rim," Wasserman writes.

"He needs to improve his pull-up game, but between his 6'6", 215-pound frame, cutting, offensive rebounding and strong spot-up shooting numbers, NBA teams should be able to picture an interchangeable guard who can play off the ball as well."

Harper is in contention with his teammate Ace Bailey and Duke freshman forward Cooper Flagg to be the first selection at the 2025 NBA Draft in June.

While Harper won't be joining the Knicks to start his career, other Eastern Conference rivals like the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets or Washington Wizards could look to add him to their team this summer.

Brunson's style of play is hard to find nowadays in the NBA, so if someone is coming into the league with that kind of skillset, teams are looking to seek that out as much as possible.

Brunson came into the league as a second-round pick, but his ascension into one of the league's stars gives guys with his type of game a chance to be taken a little bit higher in the draft.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.