Ron Harper compared himself to Kawhi Leonard and Trevor Ariza: "Them guys play the whole floor"

Ron Harper is widely considered one of the most underrated players in NBA history. Despite being in the shadows of other big-name NBA stars, Harp was well aware of what he was capable of as a player.

In fact, the “Ohio Flyer” could even see himself in some of the best players in modern-day NBA. According to Harper, he recognized some similarities between him, Kawhi Leonard and Trevor Ariza.

Ron compared himself to Kawhi and Trevor not only because they all won NBA championships. Moreover, Harper emphasized that they could all play multiple positions and function well on both the offensive and defensive end.

“Kawhi Leonard, Trevor Ariza,” Harp told Sportsnet when asked to name the players he compares himself to. “Them guys play the whole floor. They don’t just play on the offensive end, they get down on the defensive end too.”

Harper used to be the next Jordan

Truth be told, Harper, Leonard and Ariza indeed have a lot in common as players. However, Ron used to be in a completely different category back in the day. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Harp earned comparisons to only one player: Michael Jordan.

At 6’6″ and almost 200 pounds, Harper was really built like MJ. Additionally, he possessed the athleticism and agility of Mike.

It didn’t take long before people began referring to Harper as the new Jordan. In fact, many of his peers and fans still remember the time when Harp used to be in Kobe Bryant’s shoes.

“My rookie year, he plays for the Cavs,” former Chicago Bulls big man Stacey King once said of Harper. “He gives us 40 at the old stadium. You guys trade him out to the Clippers. We go on our West Coast trip, we played him out with the Clippers, he gives us 40. He gave us two 40s in two different uniforms within a two-week span, and that’s when I knew this guy is bad.”

“Before Kobe came in, we were considering Kobe the closest thing to Michael Jordan, Ron Harper was that guy, and I don’t think people really appreciate him, even when he’s here in Chicago. He lost a lot of his athleticism, but he had a high basketball IQ, which enabled him to play with the Bulls team,” Stacey added.

A versatile and humble legend

To better appreciate Harper’s legacy, one must take a quick trip down memory lane, back to when the “Ohio Flyer” was making great strides to becoming the league’s next big-name superstar.

Harper was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the 8th overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft. Early on, Ron already showcased his explosiveness as a scorer and proficiency as a defender, averaging 22.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game in his rookie season.

Unfortunately, an ACL injury in 1990 derailed Harp from reaching All-Star status. He was then dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers, where Harper eventually returned to his old form. However, an opportunity to become an NBA champion knocked, and Ron found himself joining the Chicago Bulls.

With Jordan in the forefront, Harper had to adjust his game, which he did seamlessly and easily. He reinvented himself, playing the role of a point guard and role player for the Bulls. Ron won three NBA titles in Chicago and two more with the Los Angeles Lakers in his final two seasons in the NBA.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Ron Harper compared himself to Kawhi Leonard and Trevor Ariza: “Them guys play the whole floor”

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