Ron Harper is arguably most famous for being Michael Jordan's backcourt partner during the Chicago Bulls ' second three-peat. He made his mark in the franchise by being a terrific big perimeter defender and showing his ability to adapt his game to Scottie Pippen and then Jordan.
But before he joined the Bulls in the 1994 offseason, Harper was an all-around high-volume scorer who had averaged 19.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per contest through his stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers. Perhaps he would have been a more prominent NBA star had he played in this era. The five-time champ even once said that he would've averaged 35 a game in today's NBA.
"But I always tell people: If I was in my heyday right now, in today's NBA, I'd probably score 35 a game!" Harp told HoopsHype in 2019. "You can't touch or hold or grab me, so I can get to the hole every time! And I would take the ball to the basket, too. I ain't going to sit out there shooting 12 three-pointers a night. I'm going to keep driving and keep getting to the foul line since you can't be physical with me. That's what our game was like… Sign me back up!"
Harper getting buckets
The former No. 8 pick started his NBA career with the Cavs in 1986, providing the squad with a starting shooting guard to complement Brad Daugherty and Hot Rod Williams. It didn't take long for him to establish himself as the go-to guy, eclipsing 30 points in just his sixth professional contest and leading Cleveland in scoring with 22.9 points per game in the 1986-87 campaign.
A severe ankle sprain in his sophomore year hampered Harper's development, but he still proved to be an effective and usually efficient scorer.
The Miami University product remained a threat to put up 20 points a game in an era where hand-checking was allowed — and even after he was traded to the Clippers in the 1989-90 season. Not even a torn ACL and torn cartilage later in that campaign prevented him from being a bucket-getter after he had recovered from surgery.
Related: Kevin McHale on the difference between Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan: "Larry and Magic can control the game with 10 shots"
Harper in this era
However, Harp claiming that he would average 35 a game today might be a bit ludicrous. Of course, that was his pride talking. But it's worth noting that the players who have notched the highest average points since 2020 have needed either a ton of 3-pointers or free throws (or both) to dominate the scoring department.
Harper's inability to shoot lights out from 3-point range, which he had the opportunity to hone playing alongside Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant later on with the Los Angeles Lakers, would have dashed his hopes of eclipsing a mark that only James Harden has been able to in the modern NBA.
Perhaps the best Ohio native could've recorded is around 28 a game. That's based on the career high of DeMar DeRozan, who might be the most accurate comparison for Harper today because of their propensity for driving to the rack and shooting from midrange.
Related: "I would guard anybody. From Steph, to Klay, to Kevin" - Ron Harper answers if the 90s Bulls could beat Steph Curry and the Warriors
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