Within a feature story on Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, Harper said he was going to win the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 2026/27 before walking back the comments, writes Cam Wolf of GQ.

“I was lying,” Harper said. “I had a smile on my face.”

Asked Monday about his comments from the article, Harper said whether he starts or comes off the bench won’t impact his attitude on or off the court.

“Everyone has a competitive edge to them, but the biggest thing for me is whatever I can do, just like last year, to help the team win,” Harper said (Twitter video link via Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “Whatever position the coaching staff thinks is best for me to be in, that’s the position I’ll have to own. … I’m always going to be at the forefront of keeping the team together.”

Devin Vassell raised some eyebrows around the league after the NBA Finals, when he suggested Harper wasn’t thrilled with his playing time or role throughout his rookie season.

Here’s more on the Spurs:

• Star center Victor Wembanyama often sleeps 10-plus hours per day, but he found rest difficult to come by after the stinging disappointment of losing the Finals to the Knicks, according to Weiss. Still, the French center eventually “trained harder than ever and moved on,” Weiss writes. “It’s been hard to fall asleep sometimes. Hard emotions,” Wembanyama said at Spurs media day Monday. “But there is a point where you accept that you have to go through it. You have to feel all of it. We don’t want to hide from anything.”
• Free agent addition Tobias Harris thinks he and the Spurs are a “perfect match” in terms of their shared desire to win a championship, per Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. “When the opportunity came in the offseason, I obviously looked at the talent of the group, the trajectory of the team and just the willingness of wanting and striving to win a championship, and all those things align with me personally,” Harris said. “And I’ve known (general manager Brian Wright) for a long time, worked with him in Orlando together. So when the opportunity was presented, it was one that I was really excited about.” The veteran forward added that he’ll embrace whatever role he’s asked to play this season.
• In another story for the Express-News, Orsborn shares more quotes from Monday’s media day. Notably, head coach Mitch Johnson said the team intends to take a patient approach with first-round pick Jayden Quaintance following July meniscus surgery. “Jayden’s doing great, pleasure to be around, really thoughtful kid,” Johnson said. “The plan for him is to get it (his knee) right and take it slow and to make sure we get it right.”