The Boston Celtics signed some winning genetics to a two-way contract on Thursday.
Ron Harper Jr. and the Celtics have inked a two-way deal, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Harper Jr. is the son of Ron Harper, who won five NBA titles and was a long-time contributor alongside Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls.
Harper Jr. is a 25-year old, 6-foot-6 guard who played his college ball at Rutgers University (and is the older brother of No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper of the Spurs).
Harper Jr. went undrafted in 2022.
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He made his NBA debut with the Toronto Raptors in the 2022-23 season, appearing in nine games for Toronto, then played one more game for the Raptors in 2023-24.
Harper Jr. added one more game to his NBA resume in 2024-25, a lone appearance for the Detroit Pistons in which he scored four points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out two assists.
Over the past three seasons, Harper Jr. has also played 57 games in the G League. At that level, he has averaged 17.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. He also has shot it at 38% from 3-point range.
Since the Celtics are without Jayson Tatum this season, it creates opportunities for others to have bigger roles than they would otherwise. The fact that Harper Jr. has gotten a two-way contract means he will occasionally be counted on for contributions at the NBA level this season.
It's a chance for Harper Jr. to prove he belongs in the long-term considerations of this storied franchise. If he's got any of the winning charm his dad did, Boston should definitely keep him around.
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