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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Ron Harper Jr. bring to the game? A junior achievement.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ron Harper Jr.
Harper with Rutgers in 2020
No. 8 – Boston Celtics
PositionsShooting guard, small forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2000-04-12) April 12, 2000 (age 26)
Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight233 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High schoolDon Bosco Prep
(Ramsey, New Jersey)
CollegeRutgers (2018–2022)
NBA draft2022: undrafted
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–2023Toronto Raptors
2022–2023→ Raptors 905
2024–2025Maine Celtics
2025Detroit Pistons
2025→ Motor City Cruise
2025–presentBoston Celtics
2025–2026→ Maine Celtics
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Ronald Harper Jr. (born April 12, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights of the Big Ten Conference. He is the son of former NBA player Ron Harper and the older brother of San Antonio Spurs player Dylan Harper.

Early life and high school career

[edit]

Harper was born in Paterson, New Jersey, while his father, Ron Harper, was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. He began playing basketball under the coaching of his mother, Maria.[1] On the Amateur Athletic Union circuit, he played for Ring City Basketball, a program operated by his parents.[2] He was raised in Upper Saddle River and Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, and attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey.[3]

As a junior, Harper averaged 10.1 points per game and helped Don Bosco win its first NJSIAA Non-Public A state championship in 47 years. During his senior season, he averaged 20.8 points and led the Ironmen to a 29–3 record, a second consecutive Non-Public A title and the Bergen County Jamboree championship.[4] He was named North Jersey Player of the Year by The Record.[5]

Harper was rated a four-star recruit by Rivals. He committed to Rutgers on August 11, 2017, choosing the Scarlet Knights over reported offers that included Nebraska and Miami (Ohio).[6][4]

College career

[edit]

Harper appeared in all 31 games as a freshman at Rutgers, averaging 7.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, he started every game and led the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game while averaging 5.8 rebounds. He was named honorable mention All-Big Ten and second-team All-Met.[7][4]

As a junior, Harper averaged 14.9 points and 5.9 rebounds and earned third-team All-Big Ten and first-team All-Met honors.[4] He helped Rutgers qualify for its first NCAA tournament since 1991.[8] Rutgers defeated Clemson in the first round for the program's first NCAA tournament victory since 1983.[9] Following the season, Harper entered the 2021 NBA draft process before withdrawing and returning to Rutgers.[10]

On December 9, 2021, Harper recorded 30 points and 10 rebounds against the top-ranked Purdue Boilermakers. He made a shot from just inside halfcourt at the buzzer to give Rutgers a 70–68 victory, its first win over the No. 1-ranked team in program history.[11] As a senior, he averaged 15.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Harper was named second-team All-Big Ten,[12] an AP honorable mention All-American and the recipient of the Haggerty Award as the leading Division I men's college basketball player in the New York metropolitan area.[13]

Following Rutgers' loss in the First Four of the 2022 NCAA tournament, Harper announced that he would forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility and enter the 2022 NBA draft.[14] He went undrafted.[15]

Professional career

[edit]

Toronto Raptors and Raptors 905 (2022–2023)

[edit]

On July 14, 2022, Harper signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors and their NBA G League affiliate, Raptors 905.[16] He appeared in nine NBA games during his rookie season. On July 22, 2023, Harper signed another two-way contract with Toronto.[17] The Raptors waived him on December 8 after announcing that he would undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.[18]

Maine Celtics (2024–2025)

[edit]

After playing for the Boston Celtics during the 2024 NBA Summer League, Harper signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Boston in July 2024.[19][20] He was waived on October 17,[21] and joined the Maine Celtics on October 26.[22]

Detroit Pistons and Motor City Cruise (2025)

[edit]

On January 6, 2025, Harper signed a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons, joining their G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise.[23] On February 1, he made 11 of 18 three-point attempts in a 145–132 victory over the Long Island Nets, setting a Cruise franchise record for three-pointers in a game.[24] Harper appeared in one NBA game for Detroit. The Pistons waived him on July 24.[25]

Boston Celtics and Maine Celtics (2025–present)

[edit]

In August 2025, Harper agreed to return to Boston on an Exhibit 10 contract.[26] On October 16, the Celtics converted his contract to a two-way deal.[27]

On February 4, 2026, Harper made his first NBA start and recorded 11 points, nine rebounds and three assists in a 114–93 victory over the Houston Rockets.[28] In 18 games with Maine across the G League Tip-Off Tournament and regular season, all starts, he averaged 25.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks in 31.2 minutes per game. He was selected to participate in the 2026 Rising Stars Challenge and was named to the All-NBA G League Third Team.[29]

On April 4, Boston converted Harper's two-way contract to a standard NBA contract.[30] On April 12, his 26th birthday, he scored a career-high 27 points and added seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in a 113–108 victory over the Orlando Magic.[31]

Boston declined the team option in Harper's contract for the 2026–27 season before signing him to a new multiyear agreement on July 6.[32][33] The finalized contract was reported as worth up to $13.7 million over four years. Its first two seasons were fully guaranteed, while the third season was non-guaranteed and the fourth was a non-guaranteed team option.[34][35]

Career statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

[edit]

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 Toronto 905.3.500.3331.000.8.4.0.12.2
2023–24 Toronto 103.7–––.01.0.0.0.0
2024–25 Detroit 1017.0.125.0001.0007.02.0.0.04.0
2025–26 Boston 29311.0.418.350.7501.7.8.3.34.2
Career 4039.7.410.326.8571.6.7.3.33.7

[36]

Playoffs

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2026 Boston 614.2.444.500–.7.2.5.01.8
Career 614.2.444.500–.7.2.5.01.8

[36]

College

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Rutgers 311922.3.413.278.6793.11.1.6.57.8
2019–20 Rutgers 313128.1.452.349.7085.81.0.8.812.1
2020–21 Rutgers 272732.0.441.310.7365.91.6.7.614.9
2021–22 Rutgers 323234.3.442.398.7955.91.91.0.615.8
Career 12110929.1.439.340.7415.11.4.8.612.6

[7]

Personal life

[edit]

Harper's father, Ron Harper, was an All-American college basketball player at Miami (Ohio) and played 15 seasons in the NBA, winning five championships.[37] His mother, Maria (née Pizarro), is of Filipino descent and played college basketball at the University of New Orleans.[4] She later coached the girls' basketball team at DePaul Catholic High School and served as an assistant coach for the boys' team at Don Bosco Prep.[38]

Harper's maternal grandfather, Manuel Pizarro, represented the Philippines in the Basque pelota demonstration event at the 1968 Summer Olympics.[39] Harper has expressed interest in representing the Philippines national team. He attempted to obtain a Philippine passport while in high school, but the application was not completed.[40]

His younger brother, Dylan Harper, played one season at Rutgers before being selected second overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 NBA draft.[41]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Flojo, Enzo (May 10, 2020). "Son of a Bull". Daily Tribune. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Rising Fil-Am hoop star is from family of cagers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 13, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  3. ↑ Cooper, Darren (March 14, 2017). "What's in a name, if it's Harper?". The Record. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ron Harper Jr. – Men's Basketball". Rutgers University Athletics. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  5. ↑ Mattura, Greg (December 10, 2019). "North Jersey's All-Decade Boys Basketball Team". The Record. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  6. ↑ Carino, Jerry (August 11, 2017). "Rutgers basketball: Don Bosco wing Ron Harper Jr., son of NBA champ, commits". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Ron Harper Jr. College Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Men's Basketball Punches Ticket to NCAA Tournament". Rutgers University Athletics. March 14, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Men's Basketball Defeats Clemson in the NCAA Tournament". Rutgers University Athletics. March 19, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr. to Return to Rutgers Basketball". Rutgers University Athletics. July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Harper connects at buzzer, Rutgers shocks No. 1 Purdue 70–68". AP News. December 9, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  12. ↑ "2021–22 Big Ten Men's Basketball Postseason Honors Announced". BigTen.org (Press release). Big Ten Conference. March 8, 2022. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  13. ↑ Corso, Chris (April 25, 2022). "Ron Harper Jr. Wins the Haggerty Award, Geo Baker, Caleb McConnell also Honored by All-Met". Rutgers University Athletics. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  14. ↑ Givony, Jonathan (March 23, 2022). "Rutgers' Ron Harper Jr., a projected second-round pick, to declare for NBA draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  15. ↑ Fonseca, Brian (June 24, 2022). "How Ron Harper Jr., ex-Rutgers teammates reacted to him going undrafted". NJ.com. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Raptors Sign Harper Jr". NBA.com. July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Raptors Re-Sign Dowtin Jr. and Harper Jr. and Add Freeman-Liberty". NBA.com. July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Harper Jr. to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery". NBA.com. December 8, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  19. ↑ Barth, Alex (July 8, 2024). "Celtics Summer League roster and schedule announced". 98.5 The Sports Hub. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  20. ↑ Kirschenbaum, Alex (July 14, 2024). "Ron Harper Jr. Signs Camp Contract with Celtics". Hoops Rumors. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  21. ↑ Tucker, Tristan (October 17, 2024). "Celtics Waive Jay Scrubb, Ron Harper Jr., Hason Ward". Hoops Rumors. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  22. ↑ Martin, Spencer (October 26, 2024). "Celtics Select Three in G League Draft". Maine Celtics. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Detroit Pistons Sign Ron Harper Jr. to Two-Way Contract". NBA G League. January 6, 2025. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Long Island Nets at Motor City Cruise". NBA G League. February 1, 2025. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  25. ↑ Maher, Rory (July 24, 2025). "Ron Harper Jr. Released by Pistons". Hoops Rumors. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  26. ↑ Dolloff, Matt (August 18, 2025). "Celtics sign son of 5-time NBA champion to Exhibit 10 contract". 98.5 The Sports Hub. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Celtics Convert Ron Harper Jr. to Two-Way Contract". NBA G League (Press release). October 16, 2025. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  28. ↑ Martin, Spencer (February 5, 2026). "Harper's first NBA start headlines big night for Maine's Two-Way players". Maine Celtics. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  29. ↑ Martin, Spencer (April 7, 2026). "Harper Jr. named to All NBA G League Third Team". Maine Celtics. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Ron Harper Jr. signs standard deal with Celtics". Maine Celtics (Press release). April 5, 2026. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  31. ↑ Himmelsbach, Adam (April 12, 2026). "With eight players resting, Celtics reserves pull off inspiring victory over play-in-bound Magic". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Report: Ron Harper Jr. to sign 3-year, $9M deal with Celtics". Reuters. June 27, 2026. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Celtics Sign Ron Harper Jr". NBA.com (Press release). Boston Celtics. July 6, 2026. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  34. ↑ Thompson, Khari A. (July 7, 2026). "Celtics sign Ron Harper Jr. to multi-year contract". Boston.com. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  35. ↑ Dolloff, Matt (July 9, 2026). "Ron Harper Jr. is in it for the long haul in Boston". 98.5 The Sports Hub. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  36. 1 2 "Ron Harper Jr. Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  37. ↑ Politi, Steve (March 11, 2018). "Like father, like son? Rutgers can only hope with Ron Harper Jr". NJ.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  38. ↑ Davis, Seth (July 12, 2023). "How a mom's love helped Dylan Harper become top basketball recruit in Class of 2024". The Athletic. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  39. ↑ Fonseca, Brian (March 10, 2020). "'Address me by my name': Rutgers' Ron Harper Jr. goes one-on-one with his father's legacy". NJ.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  40. ↑ Henson, Joaquin M. (December 9, 2021). "Harper's son open to play for Gilas". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  41. ↑ "Spurs Sign 2025 Second Overall Pick Dylan Harper". NBA.com (Press release). San Antonio Spurs. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
[edit]
  • NBA profile
  • Basketball-Reference profile
  • NBA G League profile
  • Rutgers Scarlet Knights bio
  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Ron Harper Jr. at Wikimedia Commons
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