Maria Harper, Dylan Harper’s mother, became the highlight of the evening on Wednesday.
Following the announcement that the former Rutgers player was chosen as the second pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Spurs, social media erupted as Maria joined Dylan and his older brother, Ron Jr., for an interview with ESPN’s Monica McNutt.
What caught many off guard was that while Maria participated in the interview, his five-time NBA champion dad, Ron Harper, remained in the crowd.
Interestingly, Dylan mentioned recently that his mother was a significant driving force behind his basketball journey, coaching him from first grade through high school.
“We play the sport we love. They play it, I’m coaching it. It’s a family affair and that’s how pure it is in our family,” Maria shared with Jersey Sports Zone back in April 2023.
Maria moved to the United States from the Philippines when she was just seven years old and was raised in Paterson, New Jersey.
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Maria and Ron first met in 1998 and welcomed Ron Jr. into the world in 2000. They married in 2005, with Dylan following a year later. However, they divorced in 2012.
On the special night of the draft, Maria specifically praised her son, highlighting his passion for the game. “Only his absolute love for the game, his determination, his humility, and his efforts come out every day,” she remarked, reflecting on his journey.
The theme of family was ever-present as Dylan spoke to the media prior to the draft, frequently expressing gratitude towards his mother. He recounted her advice: “My mother always says, ‘Please make the main thing the main thing.’ Essentially, ‘You can worry about basketball and take care of the rest.’ It’s really stuck with me just because I can work on my craft and work on what’s really important.”
