Ron Harper Jr. Bio
Ronald Harper Jr. (born April 12, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League. 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 his younger brother Dylan currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs. Listed at 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and 233 lb (106 kg), Harper plays small forward and shooting guard and wears jersey No. 13 for Boston.
Early Life and Background
Ronald Harper Jr. was born in Paterson, New Jersey, while his father, Ron Harper, was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. He grew up playing basketball under the coaching of his mother, Maria. On the Amateur Athletic Union circuit, he competed for Ring City Basketball, a program owned by his parents. Raised in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, and Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, he attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey.
As a junior at Don Bosco Prep, Harper averaged 10.1 points and 1.5 rebounds per game while shooting 37 percent from three-point range, helping his team win its first Non-Public A state title in 47 years. In his senior season, he averaged 20.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, leading Don Bosco to its second straight Non-Public A state championship. He scored a career-high 33 points in a loss to Roselle Catholic in the Tournament of Champions final and was named North Jersey Player of the Year by The Record. Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals, his only Power Five scholarship offers came from Nebraska and Rutgers, and he committed to Rutgers on August 11, 2017.
Path to Professional Basketball
Harper made his collegiate debut against Fairleigh Dickinson and posted 15 points. On March 2, 2019, he scored a freshman season-high 27 points in an 86–72 win over Iowa, finishing his freshman year with averages of 7.8 points and 3.1 rebounds. He improved his strength and conditioning in the offseason, gaining about 15 pounds, and became a regular starter as a sophomore. He averaged 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds that season, earning All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and second-team All-Met honors.
As a junior, Harper helped lead Rutgers to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 30 years and averaged 14.9 points and 5.9 rebounds. He declared for the 2021 NBA draft but opted to return to Rutgers. On December 9, 2021, he tied his career high of 30 points with 10 rebounds against Purdue and made the game-winning buzzer-beater just inside halfcourt for a 70–68 win, Rutgers’ first victory over a No. 1 ranked team. Following Rutgers’ loss in the First Four of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, he declared for the 2022 NBA draft and went undrafted.
Ron Harper Jr. Career
Toronto Raptors / Raptors 905 (2022–2023)
On July 14, 2022, after going undrafted, Harper signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors. He made his on-court debut against the Atlanta Hawks. Raptors general manager Bobby Webster noted that Wayne Embry, the team’s senior basketball advisor, was involved in both signing Harper and drafting his father years earlier. On July 22, 2023, Harper signed another two-way contract with the Raptors, and he was waived on December 8, 2023.
Maine Celtics (2024–2025)
After joining the Celtics for the 2024 NBA Summer League, Harper signed with the Boston Celtics on July 14, 2024, but was waived on October 17, 2024. On October 26, he joined the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League, where he continued to develop his perimeter game and earned All-NBA G League Third Team honors.
Detroit Pistons / Motor City Cruise (2025)
On January 6, 2025, Harper signed a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons and was assigned to the Motor City Cruise, Detroit’s G League affiliate. On February 1, 2025, he set the Cruise record for most three-pointers made in a single game, hitting 11 of his 18 attempts from beyond the arc in a 145–132 win over the Long Island Nets, surpassing the previous mark of seven held jointly by Deividas Sirvydis and Stanley Umude.
Boston Celtics Era (2025–Present)
On August 16, 2025, the Boston Celtics signed Harper to a training camp contract, and on October 16 he was converted to a two-way contract following the release of RJ Luis Jr. On February 4, 2026, Harper made his first NBA start against the Houston Rockets, recording 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in a 114–93 win while earning praise for his defense on Kevin Durant. On March 10, he scored a then career-high 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting, including 6-for-9 from three, in a 125–116 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
On April 4, 2026, Harper was promoted to Boston’s standard roster and signed a two-year NBA contract. On April 12, he scored a career-high 27 points with seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals in a 113–108 victory over the Orlando Magic, capping a strong late-season run with the Celtics.
Notable Events and Milestones
Harper’s career has been defined by perseverance after going undrafted in 2022. His game-winning halfcourt buzzer-beater against top-ranked Purdue in 2021 stands as a defining Rutgers moment, and his record-setting 11 three-pointers for the Motor City Cruise in February 2025 highlighted his elite perimeter shooting. His promotion to a standard NBA contract with the Boston Celtics in April 2026 marked his arrival as a full-time NBA contributor.
Ron Harper Jr. Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
His father, Ron Harper, was an All-American college basketball player at Miami (Ohio) and played 15 NBA seasons, winning five NBA championships. His mother, Maria (née Pizarro), is from Bataan, Philippines, played college basketball at the University of New Orleans during the 1993–94 season, and is a former head coach of the DePaul Catholic High School girls’ varsity team. She currently serves as an assistant coach for the boys’ team at Don Bosco Prep, where she coached both Ron Jr. and his brother Dylan. Harper’s maternal grandfather represented the Philippines in Basque pelota at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Personal Life
Harper has expressed interest in playing for the Philippines national basketball team but was unsuccessful when he tried to apply for a Filipino passport as a high school student. His younger brother, Dylan, joined the Rutgers basketball team in 2024, entered the 2025 NBA Draft, and was selected second overall by the San Antonio Spurs, continuing the family’s strong presence in professional basketball.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marked a turning point for Harper, beginning with his signing of a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons on January 6 and his record-setting performance for the Motor City Cruise on February 1. His 11 three-pointers in a single game became the defining highlight of his G League season and reinforced his reputation as a sharpshooting wing. Those performances set the stage for his return to the Boston Celtics organization later in the year.
After signing a training camp contract with Boston on August 16, 2025, Harper was converted to a two-way deal on October 16 and spent the early NBA season splitting time between the Celtics and the Maine Celtics. His first NBA start on February 4, 2026, against the Houston Rockets showcased his two-way potential, with 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and strong defense on Kevin Durant in a 114–93 win.
Harper’s momentum continued with a then career-high 22 points against the San Antonio Spurs on March 10, before he was promoted to Boston’s standard roster on April 4 and signed a two-year NBA contract. He closed the campaign with a career-high 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals in a 113–108 victory over the Orlando Magic on April 12, positioning himself as a rising contributor within the Boston Celtics’ rotation heading into the next season.
