Ron Harper Jr. didn’t just make his first NBA start - he made it count.
On a night when the Boston Celtics were missing key pieces and needed someone to step up, the former Rutgers standout delivered a performance that was equal parts poised and impactful. In a 114-93 road win over the Houston Rockets, Harper Jr. showed exactly why his G-League dominance wasn’t just empty numbers - it was preparation for this very moment.
Starting for the first time in his NBA career, Harper Jr. logged 33 minutes and filled the box score with 11 points (4-of-8 shooting, 3-of-7 from deep), nine rebounds, three assists, and - perhaps most impressively - zero turnovers. He also finished a team-best +16 in plus-minus. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
From the opening tip, Harper Jr. looked like he belonged. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla pointed to two early defensive rebounds as the moment he knew Harper was locked in.
“He got off to a great start with two defensive rebounds that he got to start the game,” Mazzulla said. “That showed that he was ready to go - and that stuck out to me more. And then the defense came, and then the shotmaking came, and I thought he had great presence.”
That presence extended to the defensive end, where Harper Jr. drew the tough assignment of guarding future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant - and held him to just 15 points on 4-of-11 shooting. That’s no small feat, especially for a rookie getting his first real taste of extended NBA minutes.
Harper Jr. found out he’d be starting the morning of the game, when he spotted his name on the whiteboard during a team meeting. With the Celtics battling a wave of injuries, the opportunity opened up - and Harper, on a two-way contract, was more than ready thanks to his recent G-League tear.
In 10 games with the Maine Celtics, he’s been lighting it up: averaging 24.3 points on 45.5% shooting (including 37.4% from deep), along with 5.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. His last two outings before the call-up?
A combined 68 points on 22-of-52 shooting, including 13 made threes. That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed - and it earned him a spot in the NBA’s Rising Stars game during All-Star Weekend.
Still, nothing quite compares to hearing your name called in the starting lineup of an NBA game - especially when it’s followed by a shoutout to your college roots.
“Before tonight, the only time I heard that was in MyCareer on 2K,” Harper Jr. joked. “So it was definitely great to hear your name, your college.”
Once the ball was tipped, he wasted no time making his mark. He knocked down threes, played physical defense, dropped a slick bounce-pass assist to Luka Garza, and capped it off with a highlight-reel putback dunk that had the Celtics bench on its feet.
Even his father - five-time NBA champion Ron Harper Sr. - had something to say about the performance.
“My dad told me I was looking like him out there,” Harper Jr. said with a grin. “Let’s tone that down.”
But make no mistake - this was a big-time moment for a young player who’s been grinding in the shadows of the G-League, waiting for a shot just like this. And when it came, he didn’t just stay ready - he showed out.
“Joe makes a heavy emphasis that everybody’s gonna get their shot,” Harper Jr. said. “So, just stay ready and be ready.
And, I feel like I did a good job. ... I felt like I could excel.
I feel like it’s working out pretty good so far.”
If Wednesday night was any indication, Harper Jr. isn’t just filling a roster spot - he’s building a case to stick around. The Celtics needed a spark, and he brought one.
Now, the question shifts from “Can he hang?” to “What’s next?”