As we go through life and advance in our careers, it helps to have mentors in our corner who have followed a familiar path and navigated similar experiences.
Having a mentor of any kind is a blessing, but having someone who can truly empathize, not just sympathize, makes all the difference.
As Ron Harper Jr. attempts to build on the momentum he’s created and vault his career to the next level, he’ll have one of the best mentors
in NBA history in Mike Conley Jr. by his side. Both are savvy, detail-oriented and fluid guards who don’t beat themselves and take pride in playing as close to mistake-free basketball as possible.
Their fathers were both elite athletes – Conley’s father won the triple jump at the 1992 Olympics, while Harper’s father captured five NBA championships – and both were named Jr. to keep the legacy going. That’s a lot of pressure. Whether you verbalize it or not, you feel it; every time you step on the court, you’re playing with the name on the back of the jersey at the front of people’s minds.
Hey, isn’t that Ron Harper’s kid? Oh, did you know Mike Conley’s dad was a gold medalist? Conley’s uncle played in the NFL, too. Harper’s more heralded brother is a rising star who has a chance to become one of the faces of the league.
Conley, 38, knows what it’s like to be in the spotlight, trying to make a name for yourself and carve out your own identity. Harper, 26, showed flashes last season and has an opportunity to emerge as a regular rotation player this season with Conley’s guidance as an extra source of support.
I’d love to see Harper evolve into a versatile combo guard who bullies people down low and can guard 1 through 3 no problem. Now that he signed his contract, and he has the security of knowing the franchise values him, I believe he’s capable of orchestrating a breakout season.
Pairing Harper and Conley together, whether on purpose or by accident, was a perfect decision from the Celtics. It gives Conley a chance to take a promising player under his wing, and it gives Harper a chance to learn from someone who’s seen it all.
Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly differences. For starters, Conley is 6’1 and Harper is 6’5. Conley was drafted No. 4 overall and played right away in Memphis. Harper went undrafted and only played a combined 11 games in his first three seasons.
But, there’s also plenty of overlap between the former Big Ten guards. Conley has mastered the art of playing at his pace, finding consistency amid chaos and changing speeds with the best. For Harper, the tools are all there, and the next steps are mastering those exact skills.
The irony of the situation, of course, is that they’ll be competing against each other for playing time. But in a way, that’s the beauty of it all.
With Jaylen Brown gone, there will be more opportunity at guard this season. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard will log heavy minutes, Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez will be in the rotation and then it will be up to Conley and Harper to earn that playing time. May the best man win.
Don’t be surprised if Conley gets the nod early, then Harper comes on strong late and takes those minutes. If he does, it will likely stem from Conley’s mentorship and guidance. The guy is all about the team and simply wants to be part of a winner. Whether he plays 82 games or 28, Conley was a great pickup who will make the team better.
When he retires in a year or two, ideally as a Celtic, he’ll officially pass the torch to the next reliable, no-drama, sure-handed guard who makes life easier for his teammates: You guessed it … Ron Harper Jr.
