More than a year after his first game in a Celtics uniform, Ron Harper Jr. finally landed an official contract with Boston this week.
Harper had his training camp tryout deal converted to a two-way contract on Thursday, enabling him to play in games for both the Celtics and their G League affiliate this season.
The promotion was a long time coming for the 6-foot-6 Rutgers product, who played for the Celtics’ Summer League squad last offseason, attended C’s training camp last fall and appeared in 14 games for the Maine Celtics early last season.
“I just came in and worked hard,” Harper, 25, said after Friday’s practice. “I was kind of unaware of the opportunity that was going to present itself, but it ended up happening over time. But (it was) just a testament to the hard work and dedication and the work that I put in with the team.”
Harper signed a two-way contract with Detroit in January, but he saw action in just one game for the Pistons, logging 17 minutes in their regular-season finale. After the season ended, he heard through his agent that the Celtics were interested in extending him another camp invite.
“As soon as my stint was over with Detroit, I was gathering options and my agent mentioned Boston really would love to have me back,” said Harper, who began his career with Toronto in 2022. “In the back of my mind, it was just like, last training camp, I was really grateful because I learned a lot of things. They were coming off an NBA championship, so just being in here, being around the program, just being able to see and being able to learn things. I feel like that was a big part of me getting a two-way in Detroit, of me getting that opportunity, and then when the opportunity came to come back, it was something I jumped on very quick.”
The Celtics liked what they saw from Harper last year, when he was coming off shoulder surgery. In his second stint with the franchise, he quickly emerged as Boston’s top non-roster player, seeing minutes with the Celtics’ rotation players in their preseason opener.
Over his three preseason appearances, Harper played more minutes than any other Celtics tryout or two-way player, totaling 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting (3-for-7 from 3-point range), three assists, two offensive rebounds, one block and one steal. The team ultimately waived rookie RJ Luis Jr. to sign Harper to its third and final two-way spot. (The others are filled by second-round draft picks Amari Williams and Max Shulga.)
Two-way players are allowed to play up to 50 games for their NBA team in a season, and head coach Joe Mazzulla said Harper will have a chance to contribute. Last season, the Celtics’ two-ways (JD Davison, Drew Peterson and Miles Norris) appeared in a total of 44 games for the big club.
“I think it was more than just what he did during this training camp,” Mazzulla said of Harper. “I think having him last year, coming off of an injury, and what he was able to do from last year to now, how much better he’s gotten, and then just the work that he put in, his ability to be a two-way player. The shooting has gotten better, he can think the game, and then he can compete at a high level. So we’re glad to have him, and he’s got just as much of an opportunity to play as anyone else. He’s got to continue to get better.”
