Dylan Harper reveals favorite dish: Grandma’s chicken adobo
Screencap from spurs/Instagram
Like many Filipinos across the globe, NBA rookie Dylan Harper holds a deep affection for a certain comfort food. And in a recent lighthearted Instagram video posted by the San Antonio Spurs, fans got a tasty glimpse of the rising star’s favorite Filipino dish.
“Chicken adobo!” Harper beamed without skipping a beat when asked about his go-to Filipino food.
But for the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, it’s not just any version of the comfort dish as it has to be made by his grandma.
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“I think the sauce is different. You can’t really replicate it,” Harper explained. “I only eat my grandma’s one, but yeah, definitely that.”
It’s a warm and candid moment that highlights just how close the 18-year-old guard from Rutgers remains to his Filipino heritage, even while carving his own name in professional basketball thousands of miles away from his maternal Filipino roots.
In another video titled “Invest in Their Best,” the Spurs welcomed Harper and fellow rookie Carter Bryant as they toured the Victory Capital Performance Center, dubbing it their “new home.”
The series captures more than just the facilities.
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Behind Dylan Harper’s rapid ascent is a family with strong basketball pedigree. His father, Ron Harper, is a five-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. His older brother, Ron Harper Jr., made waves at Rutgers before joining the Detroit Pistons organization.
Dylan Harper honors his mom, Maria Harper (2nd from left). Screencap/NBA/YouTube
But for Dylan’s mother, Maria, the key to her son’s success is simpler than legacy or stats. “His flat-out love for the game. His determination, his humility and his hard work day in and day out,” she shared.
Whether it’s hoops or heritage, Dylan is taking the best parts of his family with him, from the court to the kitchen.
With a strong foundation built on family, culture and passion for the game, he is ready to bring all of that – and maybe a little taste of adobo –with him to the NBA spotlight.
