@Kermit T. Frog I wasn't even born, I've seen highlights of before and after. My dad played against him in summer leagues said he could jump from the free throw line and dunk. I saw some VHS tapes of him playing before injuries and he definitely was athletic like Jordan and Clyde Drexler, honestly his game was like a combination of the both of them. He was lightning quick with bounce, he had the ability to just hang in the air, along with his defensive ability. He was dangerous 😳
@@jetshark970shark4 Clyde Drexler is another forgotten man. People don't remember what an athlete he was. If stories can be believed he had a consistent 47" vertical. Though these things all have to be taken with a grain of salt. I remember this by reason that at the time I was attending the University of Houston.
Mark Price was that dude. And Ron sacrificed a lot to make his team better. Brad Daugherty isn't mentioned amongst the centers from that era as much either. Knee injuries got all 3 of them.
Any true Bulls fan has mad love for Harper. When Ron, Pippen, and MJ would put that press on in the 3rd quarter of games is when the Bulls would really take control of a lot of games. He was great in Cleveland but became a champion in Chicago. Hell of a player, truly an integral part of Bulls success.
And from what I hear, because I never met him, but Ron Harper's a very down-to-earth guy. I met Bob Love though, at a Bulls game. I believe Mr. Love was a factor in Ron Harper signing with the Bulls. You see, they both had speech impediments.
As a Utah jazz fan I will tell you that it was Ron Harper who kept the bulls in a lot of the games when Utah had them on the run. He was always doing something to get them back into it. Respect to the man for that!
Yes Ron HArper was Very versatile & athletic I have been a fan of his game since he was At Miami Univ. His rookie average of 22.9ppg 4.8 assists 4.8 rebounds 2.5 steals 1 block on a 455 fg percentage shows how much of an all around player he was and even after the knee injury in 1990 he averaged 19.3 ppg for the clippers and helped get them into the playoffs twice. He gave the players crazy work. salute to Ron Harper.
I did not know that. Thanks for the info. Obviously I was like 7 yrs old in 1990. But I started watching the nba around 94. I knew he was a solid players but didn't know he was explosive like that.
@@tj5180 I have no factual answer for you, maybe he upset somebody higher up. because they traded him and 2 first round draft picks and a 2nd for Danny Ferry n Reggie Williams He went to the clippers and helped get them to the playoffs twice even tho he tore his right knee up soon after the trade
One of the best players post injury of my generation. What a career. From superstar to role player he was the definition of a team player and champion.
As a Chicagoan during that time in my youth, anybody who was on the Bulls roster - I was a huge fan. Despite wanting him to score like when he was with the Cavs and the Clippers, Ron sacrificed his role to be a defender/role player first. Part of the reason for the three-peat goes to Ron Harper. And on cherry on top, he appeared on Kenan and Kel,- greatest Nickelodeon sitcom ever, and myself who has had stutter for most of my life like Ron, he connected with me and the youth in a way. Underneath a great competitor was a great human being, connecting to the fans and not scared to hide his speech 'problems'.
Honestly the beating that Tony Kukoc took from Jordan and Pippen on defense during the 92 Olympics earned my respect for him. He couldn't believe that this was happening to him because he had never experienced that type of D before. But Jordan and Pippen was testing him because the Bulls had drafted him. Kukoc held his own and didn't back down. He gained respect, and he fit right in with the Bulls. Because he survived everything that Jordan and Pippen threw at him defensively, and earned their respect, the Bulls became arguably the greatest Dynasty in NBA Basketball history. So salute to Kukoc and Ron Harper. Without these two men on the second unit, the bulls don't 6 peat!!!
We love that you cover the non-superstars. This page is for real hoop fans and historians. Casuals know the superstars and all time greats ..and there is endless content on RUclips dedicated to those guys. I’m here for THIS. Ron Harper, Cedric Ceballos, Mitch Richmond, Glenn Robinson, Etc.. keep it up!
Man! Ron Harper is an amazing player, behind the back shots, take it to the basket, layups and even dunks the ball. I did not know he was this good, I really enjoyed this video and thanks for making this video!
Brandonb90 Ron Harper was solid At 6'6 With Long Arms he was a Jordan type of a Player was a dog Defensively Thats why Phil Jackson had him in Chicago and with the Lakers he was the first coach to employ the tactic of putting a big Guard on a small guard
Every time that I see a video that Isiah Thomas makes a comment about an NBA player, or the NBA, I listen intently. He gives a perspective on the players and league like no one else. He was there as a player through the 80's, and early 90's, when the league truly had great players and teams. He was there also as the president of the players association. Ron Harper was an excellent player.
Most people remember Ron Harper for his run on da Bulls, but they forget he was the no.1 scorer (before he blew out his knee) on those really good Cavs teams on the '80s...and he was still an elite shooting guard those coupla seasons with the Clippers
I'm not a sports guy at all, but I DID grow up in the 80s & 90s in the Chicago 'burbs, so even I watched some of these games. Watching your videos really makes me wish I could go back and be the fan for these guys that I am now! This team was amazing!
I so agree with on this David. Ron was a breath of fresh air for the Bulls. That guy was a sneaky one on defense. I enjoyed watching him play as much as anyone else on that team. He was one of the few players that could guard MJ. He was also one of my favorite players to watch.
As a Canadian living in LA for 4 years in the early 90s, the Clippers were my team and Ron Harper was my favourite player. I could afford to go to a half dozen games a year, and I sometimes marvelled at the things he could do on the court.
That’s what we called Clyde Drexler. He was really a poor man’s Mike! Go back and watch that dunk contest when he did every dunk Jordan did! That’s like trying to Moonwalk after Michael just got done performing Billie Jean 🤷🏿♂️
Harp was a beast out there. His defense was siiiick and he could score pretty easily when it was required for him on that Bulls team. Oh man I freakin LOVE that you included a clip from OP. OP was such a great player for the Kings.
Every time I see a picture of him or hear somebody talk about him. All I keep thinking about is Jordan on the last dance documentary saying "Fuckin Harp" 😂😂.
This is a great tribute. I had season tickets to the Clippers game for two years, about the mid-80s. Had the opportunity to see Ron Harper play with the Cavaliers. I went to every game. Saw every NBA star. Magic was winning rings. Jordon was ascending. Ron Harper was in my top 3 best I have seen play live then; The injuries changed his career. Happy he still had a long career winning rings with the Bulls and the Lakers.
Thank you for showing Ron Harper some love, He is definitely one of the most underrated players in the 90s and early 2000s. Harp was known for his offensive abilities early in his career (prior to his injuries) , but when he went to the Bulls he reinvented himself by adjusting his game to what the Bulls needed from him, which is being that a long backcourt defender who is great at playing lock-down defense on one end and provide some relief in ball handling and scoring by hitting the open shots as the 3rd or 4th option in the triangle offense on the other end of the floor.
Great video! Ron Harper was an extremely talented basketball player and athlete who was willing to sacrifice in order to win. A great example for up-and-coming young players
Great call out. Before there was cable I got the tv signals from across Lake Erie. Those Cavs teams in the late eighties were amazing. Harper was the 1st or second option. He had bounce like Jordan. Hard to believe when the world saw him play on the Bulls and lakers. He's an early version of Vince Carter. I enjoy your channel. Saxophones and explosion intro is memorable
As a Cincinnati-area native, I enjoyed seeing Ron Harper’s success since he was born in Dayton and kept his college game close to home at Miami University (OH).
Great vid as always Sean. Was wondering if you’d ever do a vid on the differences in coaches of old school NBA vs today and what made them great. Not sure if you’ve done one before or if there’s many clips, but wanted to ask. Great vid as always.
If it was Ron Harper guarding Mj in 1989, “The Shot” might not happen. Jordan always gave Harper props when he was guarding him, which brings MJ joy when Harper joined the Bulls, one less guy to try to keep the GOAT in check!
RON HARPER PRIOR TO INJURY was probably 4th Best SG in the NBA in the mid-late 80s. 1-MJ. 2-DREXLER 3-DUMARS 4-HARPER (Reggie Miller emerged more so in the 90s.) Imagine this, CLE had 3 allstars (Price, Daugherty, Nance) & Harper still averaged 20 (19.7ppg) in CLE even as the teams perimeter stopper.
Harp was the perfect fit for that 2nd 3-peat. Apparently him being from Ohio and being too close to friends he grew up with was a big concern for the Cavs. The Clips traded 2 top 5 draftees for him, but they turned out to be busts. So, the Bulls 1st 3-peat had no division competition really. Their loss, our gain.
He was a beast before the injuries but he found his niche with the bulls his def was ferocious the bulls had the perimeter on lock Rodman pippen Jordan and Harper
I remember when Ron Harper came to Augusta Ga for Masters week. I was in a club at the bar. He just started talking to me out of the blue. We talked, laughed and was drinking for at least an hour. He was down to earth💯💯
Another great player who we never saw their full potential due to injury. At least he was able to recover to the point where he still got to have a solid career.
There's a reason Phil Jackson loved Ron Harper and took him to the Lakers. Harper was overlooked, but him, Michael, Rodman and Scottie were probably 4 of the top 12 wing defenders/defenders of the 90s. That's crazy when you think about it, that defense could blanked most of the league today even with the new rules.
Cleveland really didn't know what they had in Harper. He was a great 2 way player and made Jordan work on both ends of the court. He should have guarded MJ instead of Ehlo. Cleveland made a huge mistake trading Ron for Danny Ferry. Harper was smart enough to adapt his game to whatever team he joined. After his knee injury he wasn't as explosive but he became a smarter player.
Harper became a good denfensive player after spending some time with the BULLS. He was very average defensively in Cleveland and with the Clippers. He was never a 2-way player, he played at a high level offensively, and THEN he played at a good level defensively once he was no longer particularly good offensively.
Ron Harper is my favorite player of all-time. He was a top flight, dynamic 2 guard in the late 80s/early 90s who could put on a show each and every night. He should've won ROY in 87. He was snubbed for the All-Star game at least a couple of times and probably would have been an All-Star in 90 if he didn't suffer from the devastating ACL tear, after 3 months of playing the best basketball his career up to that point. But honestly, I admire him more for sacrificing his offensive game and embracing being the ultimate role player to win championships for the Bulls and Lakers. He was definitely the X-Factor in a couple of those title runs! He's a class act on and off the court. And I'm proud to call him a friend in real life. Big ups on creating this tribute to Ron, Sean! 🙌🏾
Ive heard the comparisons mentioned before between Ron Harper and MJ because they are both bald, black 6'6" shooting guards who played for the Chicago Bulls. That is where the similarities end. Ron Harper and MJ never were on the same level. Ron never won DPOY or had a scoring title. He only had rings due to Michael and Kobe. He was never a marquee player.
Ron Harper was a beast before he went to LA. He made MJ work for every bucket. Then he would give MJ 26 easy. I’m a Bulls fan from the Chi, and watched every game the Bulls played before they were on WGN. It was a local Chicago Cable Station, we all knew Harp was not scared of the Bulls, kinda like Grant Hill. Harp brought it every time, he came to play…
Great video and content! I worked out and trained for several weeks with Ron during the summer of 95? in Phoenix, AZ. Also in attendance for those training/workouts were: Danny Manning, John "Hot-Rod" Williams, "Doc" Rivers and Derek Strong. Strength & Conditioning Coach Carl Horne supervised all those sessions. There were others who I can't remember would occasionally attend. They were very competitive and fun for a guy like myself who was chasing the dream at that time and trying to get a job in the Association...
People have slept on Ron Harper, definitely an essential piece for the bulls 2nd 3peat and with the titles with the lakers…whenever I get in these barbershop discussion of the Bulls vs the Durant/Warriors I always..always have to bring up how good of a player he was.
Harper was a good fit for those Bulls teams. Another long defender, a smart player that played well within the offense/defense, was consistent, and he could score the ball when called on. He was not the same high flying player as early in his career but was definitely a valuable piece of the championships.
When I was in high school, every matchup between Harper and Jordan was one I couldn't miss, because in many respects, they were mirror images of each other. The move he makes in the scene beginning at 7:28 is other-worldly, yet it was typical of early Ron.
Thanks for a fun and informative video on Ron. I followed him when he was with the Bulls but man had no idea how good he was with the CAVS and Clippers. Dude has some serious moves and monster dunks!
Criminally underrated and thoroughly enjoyable. As a Knicks fan he gave me fits. As a Lakers fan he was that glue guy vet they needed to win the championship. As a basketball fan he was fun to watch dunk and fly around in his younger days! Keep up the great content, thanks for this one!
As a Bulls fan, I was glad he was on our side. He was essentially the Bulls point guard and one of their better defensive players. He was a great player and seems to be a much better guy.
Harp was like the 1A to MJ during his Cavs years. I still have an old Nike poster of him, MJ, Moses Malone, Alvin Robertson, Barkley and a few other Nike ballers in judges robes in front of Supreme Court in 87-88 lol
Harper was a beast even in the 90’s. People who complain that stars today have more help than Jordan are idiots. That Bulls team was, comparably to other teams in the league, one of the most stacked teams of all time and more importantly had the greatest coach in the history of basketball and his cheat code triangle offence. People clown on Russell for just winning all the time because his team was so stacked but look at The Bulls second threepete as an example. The salary cap was 25 million. The Bulls had a 60+ million salary bill. And that was with Pippen who was one of the best players in the league being the 120th best paid player in the league. When you compare to Utah for example. For their two finals teams their salary bill was 30 mill with the vast majority being spent on Malone and Stockton and the rest on role players. On the Bulls, after they paid Pippen and Jordan, the best duo in the league by far, they still spent almost Utah’s entire salary bill just on just their role players 🤯 Jordan is the GOAT. But he was in such an amazing situation in Chicago. They gave him everything he needed to succeed and more. The best second option in the league ☑️ the best coach of all time ☑️ thirty million to spend on a supporting cast when everyone else was spending about 25 mill on entire rosters ☑️ those six rings aren’t just on him. But this is never taken into account when people compare Jordan’s rings to other players 🤷♂️
Ron b4 the knee injury was Jordan like BUT b4 the knee injury Ron went up against Barkley & got his ball snatched from him at top air & Jordan never would've allowed that
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
I loved Ron Harper, he was a great defensive addition to that Bulls team, and could still have good offensive games.
If memory serves he never reached his potential because of INJURIES. Like so many playiers.
@Kermit T. Frog Knee injury robbed him of his leaping abilities, but he could still play. Similarly to D.rose.
@@jetshark970shark4 Good comparison. My rather shaky memory of it was that it was devastating. It is so satisfying seeing Rose playing again.
@Kermit T. Frog I wasn't even born, I've seen highlights of before and after. My dad played against him in summer leagues said he could jump from the free throw line and dunk. I saw some VHS tapes of him playing before injuries and he definitely was athletic like Jordan and Clyde Drexler, honestly his game was like a combination of the both of them. He was lightning quick with bounce, he had the ability to just hang in the air, along with his defensive ability. He was dangerous 😳
@@jetshark970shark4 Clyde Drexler is another forgotten man. People don't remember what an athlete he was. If stories can be believed he had a consistent 47" vertical. Though these things all have to be taken with a grain of salt. I remember this by reason that at the time I was attending the University of Houston.
Great shout out to Ron Harper. Man, the Mark Price and Ron Harper duo was incredible.
Yes
Mark Price was that dude.
And Ron sacrificed a lot to make his team better.
Brad Daugherty isn't mentioned amongst the centers from that era as much either.
Knee injuries got all 3 of them.
5 rings
except in the playoffs
@@JK-br1mu True that! They gave the Bulls a damn good fight though. It broke my heart that Harper and Price injured their knees.
Any true Bulls fan has mad love for Harper. When Ron, Pippen, and MJ would put that press on in the 3rd quarter of games is when the Bulls would really take control of a lot of games. He was great in Cleveland but became a champion in Chicago. Hell of a player, truly an integral part of Bulls success.
Love Harp. He always looked like he was having fun out there too, lots of smiles, never disrespectful to his opponents, but always very competitive.
Ron Harper was a joy to watch. From Dayton, to Miami Univ., to Cleveland. A homegrown talent to be proud of.
If he was drafted today he would smoke guys like Durant and Klay.
@@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812 Facts
And from what I hear, because I never met him, but Ron Harper's a very down-to-earth guy. I met Bob Love though, at a Bulls game. I believe Mr. Love was a factor in Ron Harper signing with the Bulls. You see, they both had speech impediments.
@@carnevale366 I knew Ron Harper did, but I didn't know about Bob Love having a speech impediment. Good stuff
Well hell, Another Steve O local to ohio
As a Utah jazz fan I will tell you that it was Ron Harper who kept the bulls in a lot of the games when Utah had them on the run.
He was always doing something to get them back into it.
Respect to the man for that!
The reason I love this channel is because you put the spotlight on players who deserve it but almost never get it. Thank you!
⁰
Yes Ron HArper was Very versatile & athletic I have been a fan of his game since he was At Miami Univ. His rookie average of 22.9ppg 4.8 assists 4.8 rebounds 2.5 steals 1 block on a 455 fg percentage shows how much of an all around player he was and even after the knee injury in 1990 he averaged 19.3 ppg for the clippers and helped get them into the playoffs twice. He gave the players crazy work. salute to Ron Harper.
I did not know that. Thanks for the info. Obviously I was like 7 yrs old in 1990. But I started watching the nba around 94. I knew he was a solid players but didn't know he was explosive like that.
@@coreyjohnson5346 No problem but yeah He had Game and was a high flyer That played defense
Youre right!! He was a very acrobatic player in his Cleveland years!!
@@Dantana773 why did cleveland get rid of him.
@@tj5180 I have no factual answer for you, maybe he upset somebody higher up. because they traded him and 2 first round draft picks and a 2nd for Danny Ferry n Reggie Williams He went to the clippers and helped get them to the playoffs twice even tho he tore his right knee up soon after the trade
Two 6' 6" guards and a 6'7" small forward! They made it hard on the rest of the league...and I didn't even bring up Dennis and Toni.
One of the best players post injury of my generation. What a career. From superstar to role player he was the definition of a team player and champion.
Facts
A nice career,but one of the best players ever? Easy,man🙄
Very good player but I swear you old heads go to far
@@brandenwebb6232 maybe...but 'one of the' is the key phrase.
The man said *post* injury. That means he went from superstar to diminished player, and he was the best of the best.
As a Chicagoan during that time in my youth, anybody who was on the Bulls roster - I was a huge fan. Despite wanting him to score like when he was with the Cavs and the Clippers, Ron sacrificed his role to be a defender/role player first. Part of the reason for the three-peat goes to Ron Harper. And on cherry on top, he appeared on Kenan and Kel,- greatest Nickelodeon sitcom ever, and myself who has had stutter for most of my life like Ron, he connected with me and the youth in a way. Underneath a great competitor was a great human being, connecting to the fans and not scared to hide his speech 'problems'.
Thank you for showing Ron Harper and Toni Kukoc the more than deserved love! Two legends!
Honestly the beating that Tony Kukoc took from Jordan and Pippen on defense during the 92 Olympics earned my respect for him. He couldn't believe that this was happening to him because he had never experienced that type of D before. But Jordan and Pippen was testing him because the Bulls had drafted him. Kukoc held his own and didn't back down. He gained respect, and he fit right in with the Bulls. Because he survived everything that Jordan and Pippen threw at him defensively, and earned their respect, the Bulls became arguably the greatest Dynasty in NBA Basketball history. So salute to Kukoc and Ron Harper. Without these two men on the second unit, the bulls don't 6 peat!!!
Underrated beast. Very valuable for the Bulls that many dont realize
We love that you cover the non-superstars. This page is for real hoop fans and historians. Casuals know the superstars and all time greats ..and there is endless content on RUclips dedicated to those guys. I’m here for THIS. Ron Harper, Cedric Ceballos, Mitch Richmond, Glenn Robinson, Etc.. keep it up!
You got that right!
I should show you my card collection from the 90s in complete alphabetical order lol ALL the greatest from the late 80s to early 2000s
His defense was freaking AMAZING! A true lock down guard! Took alot of pressure off of Jordan on defense...
Which is one of the reasons why the 96-98 Bulls would dominate the Warriors with KD.
Jordan +Harper= Pressure
2 6' 6 dudes playing all NBA defense. That's tough, oh and pippen and Rodman
@@joshlewis575that bulls team was and still is the most defensive team of all time.
@@easylife6348 negative. 04 detroit pistons was the best defensive team ever. But 96 bulls better overall
Ron Harper! One of my favorite players growing up in the 80s and 90s! What a legend!
Dude was super athletic before the injuries, dunking from the freethrow line
Ron Harper was a problem for a lot of teams! Please do a video on Latrell Sprewell! PLEASE
That’s the guy that choked his coach right? Funny.
Sprewell was the one right before this one.
@@theroadrunnerjarhead4109 yes but he was underrated during his years with gsw and knicks
Man! Ron Harper is an amazing player, behind the back shots, take it to the basket, layups and even dunks the ball. I did not know he was this good, I really enjoyed this video and thanks for making this video!
Pre-knee Ron was nice. Ron is in the same what-if room with D Rose, Penny, Amare, Tim Hardaway, Danny Manning, Grant Hill, T Mac etc...
And Greg Oden. Who knows what he could have been.
Brandonb90 Ron Harper was solid At 6'6 With Long Arms he was a Jordan type of a Player was a dog Defensively Thats why Phil Jackson had him in Chicago and with the Lakers he was the first coach to employ the tactic of putting a big Guard on a small guard
@@erniewilkins3375 Wow, I wondered why he went to the Bulls and left the Cavs.
Brandonb90 Well actually Ron Harper was traded from the Cavs To the Clippers Back in 89
I remember that before being Chicago Bulls's player Ron Harper was great statics numbers
Every time that I see a video that Isiah Thomas makes a comment about an NBA player, or the NBA, I listen intently. He gives a perspective on the players and league like no one else. He was there as a player through the 80's, and early 90's, when the league truly had great players and teams. He was there also as the president of the players association. Ron Harper was an excellent player.
Most people remember Ron Harper for his run on da Bulls, but they forget he was the no.1 scorer (before he blew out his knee) on those really good Cavs teams on the '80s...and he was still an elite shooting guard those coupla seasons with the Clippers
After playing for bulls ron played at clippers he is the leading scorer
I'm not a sports guy at all, but I DID grow up in the 80s & 90s in the Chicago 'burbs, so even I watched some of these games. Watching your videos really makes me wish I could go back and be the fan for these guys that I am now! This team was amazing!
I so agree with on this David. Ron was a breath of fresh air for the Bulls. That guy was a sneaky one on defense. I enjoyed watching him play as much as anyone else on that team. He was one of the few players that could guard MJ. He was also one of my favorite players to watch.
As a Canadian living in LA for 4 years in the early 90s, the Clippers were my team and Ron Harper was my favourite player. I could afford to go to a half dozen games a year, and I sometimes marvelled at the things he could do on the court.
Everyone that was there in the 90's and was a basketball fan all called him a
'poor man's Jordan'
Sooooo truuuu
That’s what we called Clyde Drexler. He was really a poor man’s Mike! Go back and watch that dunk contest when he did every dunk Jordan did! That’s like trying to Moonwalk after Michael just got done performing Billie Jean 🤷🏿♂️
Drexler was a bench player his first few years though. Jordan and Harper were Day One starters for their franchises
Harp was a beast out there. His defense was siiiick and he could score pretty easily when it was required for him on that Bulls team. Oh man I freakin LOVE that you included a clip from OP. OP was such a great player for the Kings.
I’ve been waiting for someone to give Harp some gd flowers. He was quietly a friggin beast.
About time the put respect on his name
never saw Harp play with the Bulls, but had the pleasure of seeing him play with the Clippers and with the Lakers. Glad he won RINGS!!
3 high flyers Harper, Drexler, Jordan, ummm Dominique has just entered the chat 🤨
Jordan, Pip, Harp, Rodaman, Kukoc= Superteam
Every time I see a picture of him or hear somebody talk about him. All I keep thinking about is Jordan on the last dance documentary saying "Fuckin Harp" 😂😂.
Ron Harper was a BEAST!!! He was regarded as the Next MJ before the knee injuries. He was a problem for defenses. He was a BAD MAN!!!
This is a great tribute. I had season tickets to the Clippers game for two years, about the mid-80s. Had the opportunity to see Ron Harper play with the Cavaliers. I went to every game. Saw every NBA star. Magic was winning rings. Jordon was ascending. Ron Harper was in my top 3 best I have seen play live then; The injuries changed his career. Happy he still had a long career winning rings with the Bulls and the Lakers.
I thought I was the only one who noticed a young Ron Harper's game that was very Jordanesque
Much respect due to you Ron Harper, growing up watching your Bulls teams is one of the fondest memories I have in my life, appreciate it big dawg!
Thank you for showing Ron Harper some love,
He is definitely one of the most underrated players in the 90s and early 2000s.
Harp was known for his offensive abilities early in his career (prior to his injuries) , but when he went to the Bulls he reinvented himself by adjusting his game to what the Bulls needed from him, which is being that a long backcourt defender who is great at playing lock-down defense on one end and provide some relief in ball handling and scoring by hitting the open shots as the 3rd or 4th option in the triangle offense on the other end of the floor.
Harper never got the love he deserved especially w/ the Bulls and for what he did with the Lakers. You should do your next one on Jerome Kersey!
In his younger days he could also score. Part of the the Cavs team that was favored to beat the Bulls before MJ hit the buzzer beater on Ehlo.
I loved Harper's game. He was so solid
This was the best era of the NBA in my lifetime
Great video! Ron Harper was an extremely talented basketball player and athlete who was willing to sacrifice in order to win. A great example for up-and-coming young players
My-man! Harper
Great call out. Before there was cable I got the tv signals from across Lake Erie. Those Cavs teams in the late eighties were amazing. Harper was the 1st or second option. He had bounce like Jordan. Hard to believe when the world saw him play on the Bulls and lakers. He's an early version of Vince Carter. I enjoy your channel. Saxophones and explosion intro is memorable
As a Cincinnati-area native, I enjoyed seeing Ron Harper’s success since he was born in Dayton and kept his college game close to home at Miami University (OH).
Ron was the ultimate team player on the bulls. Dude could score. Instead became a defensive menace.
Ron Harper was a great player! Perfect for the Bulls in 96, 97, and 98!! Legend of the game!!! 😉
Absolutely right! Ron Harper was the silent assassin at the bulls. He played great D and contributed when needed at the offensive end.
When the Bulls got him, it was a genius move.
Great vid as always Sean. Was wondering if you’d ever do a vid on the differences in coaches of old school NBA vs today and what made them great. Not sure if you’ve done one before or if there’s many clips, but wanted to ask. Great vid as always.
If it was Ron Harper guarding Mj in 1989, “The Shot” might not happen. Jordan always gave Harper props when he was guarding him, which brings MJ joy when Harper joined the Bulls, one less guy to try to keep the GOAT in check!
Love your content Bro, Harper was a monster on offense and defense We all saw what he was able to do in his earlier years
Ron was the first Igoudalla. Iggy completed changed his game to run the second unit even though he was an all star starter
Cleveland Ron Harper was🔥🔥✨He literally made me go out and buy the Orange and White Air Force One's🔥🔥
RON HARPER PRIOR TO INJURY was probably 4th Best SG in the NBA in the mid-late 80s.
1-MJ. 2-DREXLER 3-DUMARS 4-HARPER
(Reggie Miller emerged more so in the 90s.)
Imagine this, CLE had 3 allstars (Price, Daugherty, Nance) & Harper still averaged 20 (19.7ppg) in CLE even as the teams perimeter stopper.
Harp was the perfect fit for that 2nd 3-peat. Apparently him being from Ohio and being too close to friends he grew up with was a big concern for the Cavs. The Clips traded 2 top 5 draftees for him, but they turned out to be busts. So, the Bulls 1st 3-peat had no division competition really. Their loss, our gain.
Dude exploded every game with incredible plays.
He was a beast before the injuries but he found his niche with the bulls his def was ferocious the bulls had the perimeter on lock Rodman pippen Jordan and Harper
A lot of ppl say this. Ron Harper was criminally underrated
He was called mini Jordan for a reason.
I remember when Ron Harper came to Augusta Ga for Masters week. I was in a club at the bar. He just started talking to me out of the blue. We talked, laughed and was drinking for at least an hour. He was down to earth💯💯
1996's Ron Harper Would
Lockdown 2017's Stehp Curry
Truly.....a Bad dude...and I respect he had chance too help the Bulls.....They Forget...Harp was a MJ prototype b4 injury....He Had Game....A Beast
Another great player who we never saw their full potential due to injury. At least he was able to recover to the point where he still got to have a solid career.
There's a reason Phil Jackson loved Ron Harper and took him to the Lakers. Harper was overlooked, but him, Michael, Rodman and Scottie were probably 4 of the top 12 wing defenders/defenders of the 90s. That's crazy when you think about it, that defense could blanked most of the league today even with the new rules.
They’d easily foul out with the new rules. As far as trapping and jumping passing lanes you’re correct.
Yes 🙌 they would, you are 💯% CORRECT
Cleveland really didn't know what they had in Harper. He was a great 2 way player and made Jordan work on both ends of the court. He should have guarded MJ instead of Ehlo. Cleveland made a huge mistake trading Ron for Danny Ferry.
Harper was smart enough to adapt his game to whatever team he joined. After his knee injury he wasn't as explosive but he became a smarter player.
Harper became a good denfensive player after spending some time with the BULLS. He was very average defensively in Cleveland and with the Clippers. He was never a 2-way player, he played at a high level offensively, and THEN he played at a good level defensively once he was no longer particularly good offensively.
One of the worst trades in history.
Ron Harper is my favorite player of all-time. He was a top flight, dynamic 2 guard in the late 80s/early 90s who could put on a show each and every night. He should've won ROY in 87. He was snubbed for the All-Star game at least a couple of times and probably would have been an All-Star in 90 if he didn't suffer from the devastating ACL tear, after 3 months of playing the best basketball his career up to that point.
But honestly, I admire him more for sacrificing his offensive game and embracing being the ultimate role player to win championships for the Bulls and Lakers. He was definitely the X-Factor in a couple of those title runs! He's a class act on and off the court. And I'm proud to call him a friend in real life.
Big ups on creating this tribute to Ron, Sean! 🙌🏾
Ive heard the comparisons mentioned before between Ron Harper and MJ because they are both bald, black 6'6" shooting guards who played for the Chicago Bulls. That is where the similarities end. Ron Harper and MJ never were on the same level. Ron never won DPOY or had a scoring title. He only had rings due to Michael and Kobe. He was never a marquee player.
True. A solid player nonetheless.
Ron Harper was a beast before he went to LA. He made MJ work for every bucket. Then he would give MJ 26 easy.
I’m a Bulls fan from the Chi, and watched every game the Bulls played before they were on WGN. It was a local Chicago Cable Station, we all knew Harp was not scared of the Bulls, kinda like Grant Hill. Harp brought it every time, he came to play…
Great video and content! I worked out and trained for several weeks with Ron during the summer of 95? in Phoenix, AZ. Also in attendance for those training/workouts were: Danny Manning, John "Hot-Rod" Williams, "Doc" Rivers and Derek Strong. Strength & Conditioning Coach Carl Horne supervised all those sessions. There were others who I can't remember would occasionally attend. They were very competitive and fun for a guy like myself who was chasing the dream at that time and trying to get a job in the Association...
Sean, MJ would be very upset seeing you in a John Starks jersey.
Finally! The great Harp!
I'm glad you gave Ron his flowers while he is alive!!! He was a great player!!!
People have slept on Ron Harper, definitely an essential piece for the bulls 2nd 3peat and with the titles with the lakers…whenever I get in these barbershop discussion of the Bulls vs the Durant/Warriors I always..always have to bring up how good of a player he was.
Harper was a good fit for those Bulls teams. Another long defender, a smart player that played well within the offense/defense, was consistent, and he could score the ball when called on. He was not the same high flying player as early in his career but was definitely a valuable piece of the championships.
Harper was great in locking down quicker pesky PGs in the playoffs like Rod Strickland and AI
Yes Ron Harp was that dude!!! Mr David keel up the good work… 23 for Life
Another great video! Thank you for the content.
When I was in high school, every matchup between Harper and Jordan was one I couldn't miss, because in many respects, they were mirror images of each other. The move he makes in the scene beginning at 7:28 is other-worldly, yet it was typical of early Ron.
Facts
Before the knee injury...Ron Harper was that "Dawg" for the Cavs especially offensively him & Jordan used to go at it!!💯🏀
Nahhh that much
Thanks for a fun and informative video on Ron. I followed him when he was with the Bulls but man had no idea how good he was with the CAVS and Clippers. Dude has some serious moves and monster dunks!
He was outstanding enough said
Criminally underrated and thoroughly enjoyable. As a Knicks fan he gave me fits. As a Lakers fan he was that glue guy vet they needed to win the championship. As a basketball fan he was fun to watch dunk and fly around in his younger days! Keep up the great content, thanks for this one!
Good video as usual. Harp definitely underrated.
this guy is definitely underrated ,but without a doubt a huge contributor to the 2nd 3-peat.
As a Bulls fan, I was glad he was on our side. He was essentially the Bulls point guard and one of their better defensive players. He was a great player and seems to be a much better guy.
Love the videos on the lesser known players!
Harp was like the 1A to MJ during his Cavs years. I still have an old Nike poster of him, MJ, Moses Malone, Alvin Robertson, Barkley and a few other Nike ballers in judges robes in front of Supreme Court in 87-88 lol
R.Harper is our modern day Andre Iguodala.🤷
Ron definitely helped Shaq and Kobe win those rings. He brought his championship DNA to the Lakers.
Harper was a beast even in the 90’s. People who complain that stars today have more help than Jordan are idiots. That Bulls team was, comparably to other teams in the league, one of the most stacked teams of all time and more importantly had the greatest coach in the history of basketball and his cheat code triangle offence. People clown on Russell for just winning all the time because his team was so stacked but look at The Bulls second threepete as an example. The salary cap was 25 million. The Bulls had a 60+ million salary bill. And that was with Pippen who was one of the best players in the league being the 120th best paid player in the league. When you compare to Utah for example. For their two finals teams their salary bill was 30 mill with the vast majority being spent on Malone and Stockton and the rest on role players. On the Bulls, after they paid Pippen and Jordan, the best duo in the league by far, they still spent almost Utah’s entire salary bill just on just their role players 🤯 Jordan is the GOAT. But he was in such an amazing situation in Chicago. They gave him everything he needed to succeed and more. The best second option in the league ☑️ the best coach of all time ☑️ thirty million to spend on a supporting cast when everyone else was spending about 25 mill on entire rosters ☑️ those six rings aren’t just on him. But this is never taken into account when people compare Jordan’s rings to other players 🤷♂️
Sometime Isaiah just be talkin foolishness! Dominique Wilkins, Kellogg's Harold Miner, Shawn Kemp, Mcdicce
Any basketball fan that is old enough should know about Harper. I remember those Bulls vs Cavs playoffs. Love the video.
Ron b4 the knee injury was Jordan like BUT b4 the knee injury Ron went up against Barkley & got his ball snatched from him at top air & Jordan never would've allowed that
Great player with the Cavalier, he gave MJ competitiveness all through the years before he joined the Bulls,Great offensive and defensive player
Ron Harper was an excellent player especially in his early years in the league with the Cavs, Clippers etc.
Love this channel, thanks
Really love seeing the role players that made such a difference.
Cavs should have NEVER traded him
I LOVED when Harper came to the Bulls. He was tough when he was on the Cavs. The Cavs were a scary team in large part because of him.
He was my favourite Bulls player from 1995-1998. He wasn't the Bulls starter by accident.