Ron Harper

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Harper was born in Dayton, Ohio, and attended Kiser High School, where he averaged 20.5 points, 13.4 rebounds, five assists, five steals and six blocked shots as a senior. He starred at Miami University, becoming the school's all-time leading scorer (2,377 points) and rebounder (1,119 rebounds). He was selected eighth overall in the 1986 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. After stints with the Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers, he signed with the Chicago Bulls in 1994. With the Bulls, he reinvented himself as a perimeter defender and won three NBA championships (1996, 1997, 1998).

In Their Own Story

During the 1998 lockout-shortened season, Harper played his final year with the Bulls. With Michael Jordan retired again and Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman gone, the roster was depleted. The team floundered to a 13–37 record, but Harper remained a constant presence, starting all 35 games he played. He finished second on the team in scoring with an average of 11.2 points per game, nearly doubling his output from previous seasons out of necessity. This stark contrast highlighted his versatility; where he had previously been a volume scorer early in his career, in Chicago he was a stabilizer who could elevate his production when the supporting cast collapsed, proving his value extended beyond just defense.

Reader's Guide

Harper played for the Chicago Bulls from 1994 to 1999. In his first season (1994–95), he played in 53 games (all starts) out of a possible 82, averaging 6.9 points per game. For the first time in Harper's career, his team advanced past the first round of the playoffs. In 1995–96, he started 80 games and averaged 7.4 points per game as the Bulls set a then-NBA record of 72–10 and won the championship. He started all 82 games in 1997–98, averaging 9.3 points per game, and won his third title with the Bulls. In the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season, he started all 35 games he played and finished second on the team with 11.2 points per game.

Did You Know?

• Harper is Miami University's all-time leading scorer with 2,377 points.
• He recorded the first triple-double in MAC history with 38 points, 19 rebounds, and 12 assists against Ball State.
• Harper's number 34 was retired by Miami University in 1986.
• He was a co-captain of the Los Angeles Clippers in 1992–93 alongside Danny Manning and Mark Jackson.