Ron Harper Felt Free to Come Out Shooting

The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Ron Harper in the first round of the 1986 NBA draft and quickly made it clear they wanted him to replace veteran World B. Free as their high-scoring guard.

Statistically, Harper has filled the role perfectly.

Free, 33, now with Philadelphia, averaged 23.4 points a game and made 45.5% of his floor shots for Cleveland last year. Harper, 23, is averaging 22.2 points a game and is shooting 45% from the floor.

That Harper has picked up where Free left off is nothing short of amazing, says Cleveland Coach Lenny Wilkens. Free did not become a 20-point scorer until his fourth year in the NBA.

“It took World several seasons to harness his talent and develop his game to the points where he could score at such a high level while also shooting a decent percentage and getting some assists,” Wilkens said.

The 6-foot-6 Harper’s style on offense cannot be likened to the 6-foot-3 Free’s. Free made most of his points from long-range, driving into the lane only when he hoped to add foul shots to his total.

Most of Harper’s points come from closer to the basket, on acrobatic moves that bring to mind Chicago’s Michael Jordan. While Free, whose rights were traded to Philadelphia, is a 76% free-throw shooter, however, Harper is at 65%.

“It is very hard for a player to come into the league and score 20,” Wilkens said. “But the guys who have the potential to be great players, they do it. When I first saw Ron play in college (at Miami of Ohio), I put him in that class.

“So am I surprised that he has played this well? Not really. I knew Ron was going to start no matter who was on this team.”