Ron Harper Jr. Turns NBA All-Star Weekend Into a Family Affair
Boston Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr. didn’t just show up to NBA All-Star Weekend-he made it a family celebration. Over the course of three nights in Los Angeles, the Celtics were well represented, and Harper Jr. was front and center for the first two, turning what’s usually a showcase of individual talent into a heartfelt tribute to basketball roots.
Harper Jr., who’s been making waves with Boston’s G League affiliate in Maine and earning meaningful minutes with the big club, got his moment in the spotlight during the Rising Stars competition. And while the box score won’t tell the whole story, the moment that stole the show came at his expense-in the best kind of way.
In the semifinal game, with the clock winding down, Harper Jr. found himself guarding his younger brother, Dylan. That’s when Dylan hit the game-winner-right over his older brother. A tough pill to swallow for any competitor, sure, but a moment that basketball fans (and their family) won’t soon forget.
The cameras quickly cut to their dad, Ron Harper Sr.-yes, that Ron Harper, the five-time NBA champion-grinning from ear to ear in the stands. It was a full-circle moment: two sons, both on the court during All-Star Weekend, creating the kind of memory that doesn’t fit neatly into a stat sheet.
Harper Jr. finished the game with seven rebounds, but that sibling showdown was the storyline. It’s rare to see two brothers share the court on such a stage, and even rarer when one gets the better of the other in such dramatic fashion.
But the family fun didn’t stop there.
Night two brought the return of the Shooting Stars competition-a fan-favorite event that hadn’t been part of All-Star Weekend since 2015. For those who might need a refresher, it’s a timed shooting contest where trios made up of current players, legends, and rising stars race against the clock to hit a series of shots from different spots on the floor. It’s fast, chaotic, and surprisingly competitive.
Enter “Team Harper,” featuring Ron Sr. and his two sons. That’s right-three Harpers, one team, and a whole lot of heart.
They were up against some serious competition: “Team All-Star” (Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren, and Rip Hamilton), “Team Cameron” (Jalen Johnson, Kon Knueppel, and Corey Maggette), and “Team Knicks” (Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, and Allan Houston). On paper, the Harpers-led by a 62-year-old Ron Sr.-looked like longshots.
But the scoreboard told a different story.
Team Harper didn’t make it to the final round, but they held their own, finishing with 18 points-two better than Team All-Star, who ended with 16. And if Rip Hamilton hadn’t nailed a last-second half-court shot, the Harpers would’ve had an even more comfortable margin.
As for Harper Jr.’s individual showing? He went 3-for-7, knocking down shots from the block, the elbow, and the corner.
He missed from the baseline, the wing, the top of the key, and half-court. But honestly, the numbers don’t matter here.
What mattered was seeing a basketball family-one that’s given so much to the game-share the court together. Ron Sr. spent 15 seasons in the league, winning titles alongside Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal. Now, he’s watching his sons carve out their own paths, and for one weekend, they got to do it side by side.
Moments like these are what make All-Star Weekend special. It’s not just about dunks and deep threes-it’s about legacy, connection, and the joy of the game.
And if there’s one thing we know for sure: the Harper family’s holiday card this year is going to be something else.