While Michael Jordan was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the NBA’s pre-eminent wingman in the 1980s and ’90s, some can argue that Ron Harper was right there with him. While many remember Harper as a hard-nosed defender and court general for the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers later in his career, he was actually a high-flying, high-scoring shooting guard who helped the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers go on numerous playoff runs.
Nicknamed the “Ohio Flyer” for a reason, Harper regularly defied gravity with his athletic dunks and acrobatic lay-ins. He was a master of creating space for himself in the air, whether it be for mid-range jumpers or alley-oop finishes.
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However, things changed when he signed to play for the Bulls during the 1994-95 season. Confident that he could step into the void left by Jordan’s first retirement, Harp started 53 games for the Bulls that season, feeling secure in his role and the contributions he made to the team. However, Jordan’s return changed everything.
A hard time adjusting
Harper started the first 52 games of the season, but Jordan’s return immediately pushed him to the back of the rotation. In the last 25 games of the regular season, he played in only 12.3 minutes per game, and averaged 1.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
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Mincing no words about that experience, Harper recalled how challenging that transition was.
“My first year in Chicago, I had a hard time there,” he shared.
However, he also knew that he had a lot of gas left in the tank. Despite the knee injuries he endured, which included a torn ACL during his time with the Clippers, Harper took pride in being a complete player, someone who could positively impact the game without needing possession of the ball.
“The thing was, I was still able to be a smart guy who knew how to be a part of a team,” he said.
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Met with Phil in the offseason
As a veteran head coach, Phil Jackson knew how jarring it was for Harper to deal with getting demoted by Jordan’s sudden and unexpected return. So the two met in the offseason to find common ground moving forward.
“After my first year, me and Phil sat down, and he said, ‘How can you be a part of this basketball team?'” Harp recalled. “I said, ‘Well, I’ve got MJ here, I’ve got Scottie here, I’ve got Kukoc here. I’m not gonna get but five shots.'”
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With starting point guard B.J. Armstrong no longer with the Bulls after he was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in the expansion draft, Harper knew someone had to take the latter’s spot on the starting five. He believed he was capable of being that guy and broached the idea with Jackson.
“If you trust me, I can play point guard. I can play defense. I can get us in all our plays,'” he told Jackson.
Phil’s response took Ron by surprise.
“And you know what Phil said to me? He said, ‘If you had come in here and said to me you needed 10-12 shots and you needed to do all of this, I would have traded you,'” he remembered with a laugh.
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Harper did not get traded. Instead, he reinvented himself as a slow but steady point guard who gave opposing backcourt players fits with his long arms and defensive savvy. Harper eventually ended his career with a bang, winning five straight NBA titles with the Bulls and Lakers.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.