Ron Harper Jr. Stuns in Season-Opening Showcase, Signaling Breakout Year for Raptors Prospect

Boston — As the Boston Celtics trim their roster ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season, guard-forward Ron Harper Jr. has surged into the spotlight, positioning himself as a front-runner for the club’s newly opened two-way contract slot. The 25-year-old swingman impressed in three preseason outings, totaling 13 points, three assists, two rebounds, a steal and a block while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc in 32 minutes of action. Boston created the vacancy by waiving rookie wing RJ Luis Jr., and head coach Joe Mazzulla quickly rewarded Harper with rotation minutes alongside established starters. Harper’s two-way candidacy caps a remarkable comeback trail that began last year in Maine, where he averaged 14.1 points on 39.2 percent three-point shooting before earning a late-season contract with the Detroit Pistons. Signed to an Exhibit 10 deal in August, Harper entered camp competing against fellow invitees Jalen Bridges, Kendall Brown and Wendell Moore Jr. for a final roster foothold. Yet his blend of reliable perimeter shooting, 6-6 frame and defensive versatility has separated him from the pack—traits Boston covets to flank stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Harper, the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper Sr., credits a “bet-on-yourself” mindset for his rise. “I learned to embrace every stop, from Summer League to the G League, and now I’m ready to help a contender,” he said after practice Wednesday. The next hurdle arrives this weekend when the Celtics finalize contracts before opening night. Should Boston convert Harper’s Exhibit 10 into a two-way deal, he could split time between TD Garden and the Maine Celtics, giving Mazzulla instant depth while preserving long-term development upside. Key factors favoring Harper’s case • Consistent three-point marksmanship at NBA distance. • Proven production in Maine’s pace-and-space system that mirrors Boston’s offense. • Positional flexibility to guard 1-through-3, easing the load on All-Defensive guard Jrue Holiday. For a franchise chasing Banner 19, marginal roster decisions can swing postseason fortunes. A two-way contract would allow Boston to carry Harper for up to 50 NBA games, a cost-efficient insurance policy against injuries and a potential X-factor come spring. If his preseason form holds, the Google searches now spiking for “Ron Harper Jr. Celtics” may be only the beginning of a breakout narrative in Boston.