TORONTO — Ron Harper Jr. has become somewhat of a fixture of Boston Celtics training camp.
Now, he’s officially getting a contract with the Celtics, too.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that
the former Rutgers standout is signing a two-way contract with the Celtics as he begins his fourth NBA season.
Harper Jr. has become a familiar face at the Auerbach Center this time of year. The 25-year-old guard has spent the last two training camps with the Celtics, and was on the Maine Celtics for the earlier portions of last season before he signed a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons.
But, though he stood out in the G League — he even had an 11 three-pointer night — he was waived by the Pistons at the end of the season and rejoined Boston over the summer.
This time, things feel different.
Last fall, Harper Jr. was only a few months removed from a torn labrum that ended his 2023-2024 campaign. And, though he was cleared to play with the Celtics at Summer League in 2024, he didn’t quite feel like himself as he recovered from the shoulder injury.
“A big part of the game is psychological,” Harper Jr told CelticsBlog on Friday. “Last year, I was still dealing with that kind of stuff. I feel like now I’m a lot more confident in the capabilities of my body, and my shoulder, especially.”
So, when Harper Jr. signed a training camp deal with the Celtics this season, he once again hoped for a two-way contract.
This time, he got it.
The Celtics waived RJ Luis on Wednesday and reportedly agreed to sign Harper Jr. on Thursday. He joins rookies Amari Williams and Max Shulga as the team’s two-way players.
The 6’5 guard has impressed Joe Mazzulla at training camp so far
“He’s been great,” Mazzulla said last week. “His professionalism has been great. His basketball IQ has really improved. He’s shooting the ball really well.”
For Harper Jr., it’s helpful that he’s already familiar with the Celtics system and Mazzulla.
“Being here last year, I feel like it helped me gain a grasp of the system a little better, a little faster,” he said. “So, I feel like I was a step ahead in that aspect.”
Mazzulla and Harper Jr. talk a lot about kickboxing and UFC, something that is of mutual interest. The latter smiled as he discussed how much Mazzulla enjoys jiu-jitsu training.
“He invited me to a couple of them sessions before, but I had to politely decline,” he said with a grin.
“I feel like the system that the Celtics are playing is a system I can thrive in,” Harper said. “I felt like I had a good experience last year, and I felt like I learned a lot, and ultimately it led me to get an opportunity with another team. Coming back with the things I learned last year, I’m keeping those things with me. I’m just able to go out there, be more free, be more comfortable.”
“He’s getting better and better,” Mazzulla said.
Harper Jr. knew that throughout training camp, he was fighting for a chance to fulfill his lifelong dream.
But he kept that out of his mind as much as possible and simply focused on what he loves most: the game of basketball.
“It’s as stressful as you make it — if you go out there thinking about fighting for your life and stuff, it can be stressful,” he said. “But I played in a bunch of basketball games in my life, so just trying to go out there with a free mind, knowing the capabilities, trusting the work that I put in, and training camp in the summer, and, you know, just put it all in God’s hands. I feel like that’s the most important part.”
