Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr. set for national spotlight at NBA All‑Star Weekend
Ron Harper Jr. arrives at All‑Star Weekend riding his best professional stretch and will use the showcase to highlight how far he’s come. The 25‑year‑old guard from the Celtics organization will play in the Rising Stars game on Friday and will team with his father and brother in the Shooting Stars competition on Saturday — family moments that would have been hard to imagine during earlier chapters of his career.
From G League grind to All‑Star stage
Harper’s path to Los Angeles has been anything but linear. He spent years moving through the G League, signing multiple two‑way deals in different cities, dealing with waivers and a season‑ending shoulder injury that stalled his progress. This month, however, he’s broken into an NBA rotation for the first time, playing nearly as many NBA minutes in February as he had in his whole prior NBA career.
Rising Stars game: a chance to showcase improvement
Selected to represent the G League, Harper will take the floor in the Rising Stars game on Friday as one of the circuit’s top performers. He earned the nod after a statistical stretch that included high scoring averages and strong rebounding and assist numbers for the Maine Celtics. Harper described a shared focus among his teammates: "We were all really excited to compete and represent the G League and be able to go out there and show people that we can compete on the grandest stage. "
Shooting Stars with family — a last‑minute, emotional decision
Saturday brings a softer, more personal spotlight. Harper will compete in the Shooting Stars competition alongside his father, former NBA veteran Ron Harper Sr., and his younger brother, Dylan Harper, who is now in the NBA. The family lineup came together at the last minute and Harper said he couldn’t pass it up: "They had both agreed to it, and they asked me to do it. And I was like, 'Yeah, why not?' I wasn’t gonna stick them in with some random on the team. It was just gonna be a great opportunity to create some lifelong memories with family. "
Breakout moment: guarding Kevin Durant
Harper’s emergence included a breakout performance in a start against the Houston Rockets earlier this month, when he posted career highs in points and rebounds and took on the challenge of defending Kevin Durant. He framed that assignment as a turning point, calling it his "Welcome to the NBA" moment and noting the intense focus required to not give Durant easy looks. The defensive showing and overall effort helped cement coaches’ trust and led to more rotation minutes.
What this means for Boston’s roster moving forward
The timing of Harper’s surge coincides with roster changes that have opened spots and created opportunities in Boston. With the team managing personnel and salary considerations, Harper’s blend of shooting and defensive potential makes him an appealing option to keep around at a higher roster status if the front office chooses to act. For now, he’s focused on capitalizing on the platform All‑Star Weekend provides: competing well in the Rising Stars game, making memories with family in the Shooting Stars contest and reinforcing that he belongs at the NBA level.
Looking ahead
Harper will return to team duties after the break and could see his role increase as the season progresses. The Celtics are off for the All‑Star break and resume play later in the weekend, with a notable matchup at 12: 30 p. m. ET on Sunday that will mark the end of the break. For Harper, the immediate priority is simple: play the right way, compete hard and use Los Angeles to announce his arrival to a wider audience.
