TORONTO — Ron Harper Jr. has change into considerably of a fixture of Boston Celtics coaching camp.
Now, he’s formally getting a contract with the Celtics, too.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that the previous Rutgers standout is signing a two-way contract with the Celtics as he begins his fourth NBA season.
Harper Jr. has change into a well-recognized face on the Auerbach Middle this time of 12 months. The 25-year-old guard has spent the final two preseasons with the Celtics and was on the Maine Celtics for the sooner portion of final season earlier than he signed a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons.
However, although he stood out within the G League — he even had an 11 three-pointer evening — he was waived by the Pistons on the finish of the season and rejoined Boston over the summer season.
This time, issues really feel totally different for Ron Harper Jr.
An enormous a part of that’s his well being.
Final fall, Harper Jr. was just a few months faraway from a torn labrum that ended his 2023-2024 marketing campaign. And, although he was cleared to play with the Celtics at Summer season League in 2024, he didn’t fairly really feel like himself as he recovered from the shoulder damage.
“An enormous a part of the sport is psychological,” Harper Jr instructed CelticsBlog on Friday. “Final 12 months, I used to be nonetheless coping with that type of stuff. I really feel like now I’m much more assured within the capabilities of my physique, and my shoulder, particularly.”
So, when Harper Jr. signed a coaching camp take care of the Celtics final summer season, he as soon as once more hoped for a two-way contract.
This time, he acquired it, beating out fellow coaching camp gamers Kendall Brown, Jalen Bridges, and Wendell Moore.
The Celtics formally waived RJ Luis, who they acquired by way of commerce in July, on Wednesday, and reportedly agreed to signal Harper Jr. on Thursday. He joins rookies Amari Williams and Max Shulga because the workforce’s two-way gamers.
The 6’5 guard has impressed Joe Mazzulla at coaching camp up to now
“He’s been nice,” Mazzulla mentioned final week. “His professionalism has been nice. His basketball IQ has actually improved. He’s taking pictures the ball very well.”
For Harper Jr., it’s useful that he’s already acquainted with Mazzulla and the Celtics system.
“Being right here final 12 months, I really feel prefer it helped me acquire a grasp of the system somewhat higher, somewhat sooner,” he mentioned. “So, I really feel like I used to be a step forward in that facet.”
Mazzulla and Harper Jr. speak quite a bit about kickboxing and UFC, one thing that’s of mutual curiosity.
The latter smiled as he mentioned how a lot Mazzulla enjoys jiu-jitsu coaching.
“He invited me to a few them periods earlier than, however I needed to politely decline,” he mentioned with a smile.
In faculty, Harper Jr. dealt with the ball and shot it nicely from the surface. In his senior season, he averaged 15.8 factors per sport, and shot 39.8% from past the arc.
“I really feel just like the system that the Celtics are taking part in is a system I can thrive in,” Harper mentioned. “I felt like I had expertise final 12 months, and I felt like I discovered quite a bit, and finally it led me to get a chance with one other workforce. Coming again with the issues I discovered final 12 months, I’m retaining these issues with me. I’m simply capable of go on the market, be extra free, be extra snug.”
The teaching employees has taken discover.
“He’s getting higher and higher,” Mazzulla mentioned.
Harper Jr. knew that all through coaching camp, he was combating for an opportunity to meet his lifelong dream.
However he saved that out of his thoughts as a lot as potential and easily targeted on what he loves most: the sport of basketball.
“It’s as hectic as you make it — in case you go on the market interested by combating in your life and stuff, it may be hectic,” he mentioned. “However I performed in a bunch of basketball video games in my life, so simply making an attempt to go on the market with a free thoughts, understanding the capabilities, trusting the work that I put in, and coaching camp in the summertime, and, you already know, simply put all of it in God’s arms. I really feel like that’s an important half.”
