Ron Harper Jr.

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 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. On the Amateur Athletic Union circuit, he played for Ring City Basketball, a program operated by his parents. He was raised in Upper Saddle River and Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, and attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey.

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. He was named North Jersey Player of the Year by The Record.

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). Rutgers defeated Clemson in the first round for the program's first NCAA tournament victory since 1983. Following the season, Harper entered the 2021 NBA draft process before withdrawing and returning to Rutgers.

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. 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, 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.

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. He went undrafted.

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

Maine Celtics (2024–2025) After playing for the Boston Celtics during the 2024 NBA Summer League, Harper signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Boston in July 2024. He was waived on October 17, and joined the Maine Celtics on October 26.

Detroit Pistons and Motor City Cruise (2025) On January 6, 2025, Harper signed a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons, joining their G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise. 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. Harper appeared in one NBA game for Detroit. The Pistons waived him on July 24.

Boston Celtics and Maine Celtics (2025–present) In August 2025, Harper agreed to return to Boston on an Exhibit 10 contract. On October 16, the Celtics converted his contract to a two-way deal.

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. 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.

On April 4, Boston converted Harper's two-way contract to a standard NBA contract. 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.

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. 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.

Career statistics

NBA Regular season

Playoffs

His mother, Maria (née Pizarro), is of Filipino descent and played college basketball at the University of New Orleans.

Harper's maternal grandfather, Manuel Pizarro, represented the Philippines in the Basque pelota demonstration event at the 1968 Summer Olympics. 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.

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.