Five-time NBA champion Ron Harper made it clear Saturday that he is taking a hands-off approach with his sons’ professional careers.
Speaking at a press conference during the 2026 NBA All-Star Saturday event at the Intuit Dome, the former guard addressed how he advises his children as they navigate the league.
“I’m not LeBron James. I am not gonna tell my kids what they have to do. Enjoy the game and get back after ball game, we will talk it. I once told them whatever opportunity that you had you should have a chance to play in the NBA,” Harper said.
The comment came one night after his sons faced each other in the Rising Stars game.
Dylan Harper, a rookie guard for the San Antonio Spurs, sealed a 40–34 win for Team Melo with a step-back jumper over his older brother.
The 19-year-old finished with 10 points, one rebound, one steal and one block in the showcase event.
Ron Harper Jr., a two-way wing for the Boston Celtics, went scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting but contributed seven rebounds and two assists while defending multiple positions.
Their father watched from the front row as both former Rutgers standouts shared the floor on opposite teams.
The brothers reunited Saturday in the Shooting Stars competition as Team Harper, adding another chapter to their All-Star Weekend experience.
On the court this season, Dylan has carved out rotation minutes for San Antonio, which sits second in the Western Conference at 38-16.
He is averaging 10.9 points, 3.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per game while shooting 46.7% from the field.
His efficiency inside the arc stands at 54.4%, an indicator of strong shot selection within the Spurs’ spacing system.
In Boston, Ron Jr. has appeared in 10 games for the Eastern Conference’s second-place club, averaging 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in 10.6 minutes.
Across four NBA seasons with Toronto, Detroit and Boston, he holds career averages of 2.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 21 appearances.
