Grant expanded on that situation during a Zoom call with Betonline.AG on Monday in which former Bulls Ron Harper, Bill Cartwright and Craig Hodges also participated. Let me give Scottie a break, let me give Michael a break, go guard Kevin Johnson. After that, Ron became a different player. Ron was drafted 8th overall by the Cavaliers in the 1986 NBA Draft. Meanwhile, Harper won three championships with the Bulls and two with the Los Angeles Lakers. "When that so-called documentary is about one person, basically, and he has the last word on what's going to be put out there it's not a documentary," Grant said. "It wasnt great from the get-go.". Michael came back with, I know my own body and I want to play now. Now comes the disputed statement. Things like that. Grant said Tuesday that the story is true but also said he always went right back at Jordan after the criticism. In total, Harper played 15 seasons and averaged 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.7 steals. His fractured relationships with Jordan, Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen made the 1997-98 season needlessly messy. And calling them the B's and the H's; that wasn't called for.". Later that role changed, even more, when Jordon decided to return to the NBA in 1995. Harper never made an All-Defensive team during his career like Jordan and Pippen. WebMichael Jordan and Ron Harper found a way. Ron Harper. The Chicago Bulls icons are undoubtedly two of the top defenders in NBA history and helped the Bulls suffocate teams during the 90s. Harper was a tall guard and might have done a better job of marking Jordan than Ehlo. What makes Rodmans comment so interesting is that Jordan came to the NBA two years before Harper did. I got MJ. Replacing Oakley with Bill Cartwright and Doug Collins with Jackson were not initially popular moves with Jordan, but the superstar grew to understand they were necessary. The Lakers would go on to win the NBA championship, and Harper won his fourth overall title. NBA MOURNS THE LOSS OF KOBE BRYANT ON TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF TRAGIC DEATH, Michael Jordan (L) and Scottie Pippen (R) of the Chicago Bulls talk during the final minutes of their game 22 May in the NBA Eastern Conference finals aainst the Miami Heat at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. WebRon Harper SG. Its always a luxury for a championship team to have that.. For all their differences, Jerry Krause and Michael Jordan shared plenty of similarities. Jordan hit a game-winning buzzer beater to eliminate the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 1989 playoffs. Harper saw his minutes decrease when he joined the Bulls, yet he still found a way to make an impact on the team. The interview concluded with Grant being asked why he repeatedly referred to "The Last Dance" as a "so-called documentary." Before entering the NBA, Harper had an impressive college career. There is a long list of unconventional Krause moves that turned out to be brilliant. All Rights Reserved. Harper averaged 23 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in his first 28 games for the Clips. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, He also helped convinced Pippen not to accept a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers in February 1995. My point is: Why the hell did he want to bring that up? "The crazy thing, for one of my charities he sent me an autographed pair of shoes," Grant said. Dennis probably has, too. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nba | pageType: stories | Compared to the years in Cleveland, Harper was a different player when he played with Mike. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. All of that having been said, many associated with the Cavaliers during Jordan's era -- while never taking away from Jordan's greatness nor his countless And Jordan didn't disagree. While talking about his famous Buzzer beater against Cleveland in the 1989 playoffs, Jordan said they had Craig Ehlo guarding me at that time, which was a mistake; Because the guy that played me better was Ron Harper. Much like Michael Jordan, he was obsessive about his job to the point where his colleagues couldn't relate to him. In a radio interview with Kap and Co. on ESPN 1000 in Chicago on Tuesday, Grant said it "is a downright, outright, completely lie" that he leaked much of the information in Sam Smith's famous "The Jordan Rules" book, as Jordan alleged during the documentary. "Lie, lie, lie. The difference is that "The Last Dance," like most retrospectives about that era, presents Jordan's intensity, stubbornness and abrasive leadership style as necessary components of his greatness. He started all 82 games for the Cavs that season and averaged 22.9 points, 4.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.5 steals, which earned him All-Rookie First Team honors and a second-place finish in the Rookie of the Year race behind Chuck Person. Ron Harper played with Michael Jordon during the second 3-peat of the Chicago Bulls championship run. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Sure, his overall stats werent what they once were, but he was exactly what the Bulls needed him to be. Why was that in there? Jordan ended the game with 44 points, nine rebounds and six assists. A group of Donald Trump supporters was booted from a Ron DeSantis book signing event after he allegedly ordered security to kick out fans of the former president.. VINCENT LAFORET/AFP via Getty Images "Michael loves this stuff," Bulls teammate Ron Harper He was able to do so as the Lakers won two straight finals. Story tips can be sent to Daniel.Canova@fox.com and on Twitter: @DanCanova. After Jordan hit a jumper with 5.2 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Bulls a one-point lead, Harper played outstanding defense on John Stockton on Utahs final possession. Jordan's game-winner was revisited in Episode 3 of ESPN's 'The Last Dance' on April 26. His celebration was even more iconic as he leaped into the air and hit multiple fist pumps. Did Krause shield Reinsdorf from scorn they should have shared? The Bulls won the game 75-68 to lead the series 2-0. He added two more championships to his resume as part of the LA Lakers in 2000 and 2001. In a separate interview earlier this month on KNBR in San Francisco, Smith relayed a story about Jordan telling flight attendants not to serve Grant food on the plane after a bad game. Though he put up good numbers in LA, it was clear Harper was ready to move on, and it was at that time his second career began. Forever known as "The Shot," Jordan's series-clinching jumper over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 1988 playoffs has been well-chronicled at this point, so everyone knows the basic plot lines. "Charles Barkley, they've been friends for over 20, 30 years," Grant said. "But anybody [who] knows me, where I come from and what I stand for, come on, man. Harp could take a guy for four or five minutes, give Scottie and Michael a little break. He also speaks about the modern NBA, who the GOAT is, and his role as an NBA ambassador and shows us that he can still shoot the ball!Der 5-malige NBA-Champion Ron Harper spricht mit uns ber seine NBA-Karriere, ber seine 1 gegen 1-Duelle mit Michael Jordan und was es braucht, um einen Spieler wie MJ zu verteidigen. He had to adjust his game a bit as his slashing ability (his strong suit) wasnt what it was before the injury, but he continued to post solid numbers. And I went right back at him. Some felt he never fully recovered from the knee injury, especially on defense, and may have been relying a little too much on his average jump shot. Michael Jordan teaming with a former nine-time All-Star and no one talking about it feels impossible to believe today. But it should also ask other questions. Why bring that up? Mike, you know I gave you the business. "It's only a grudge, man. The Worm played with and against both Haper and Jordan during his Hall of Fame career and truly believes the former could have been involved in the GOAT conversation had he not suffered a serious knee injury that turned him from a leading man into more of a supporting player, albeit a supporting player who still won five NBA championships. I have never seen this in all of my life. "In terms of the migraine, in terms of the 1. Chicago Bulls legends Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen wont ever speak again. Why would MJ just point me out? To see a guy, a leader, to go at those guys like that. Please logout and login again. Bill Cartwright stood up and said what he had to say, and then we handled it. 7:33 pm ET, Report: Morant accused of punching teenager last summer, Curry could return to Warriors next week, per report, Report: Harden 'serious' about returning to Houston, NBA Star Index: LeBron is finally breaking down, NBA DFS picks, lineups, advice, March 1 strategy, Celtics vs. Cavaliers odds, picks, prediction, bets, Power Rankings: Bucks No. The five-time champion was 6-foot-6 and could guard perimeter scorers at a high level. However, Harper was the underrated point guard who set up the offense and guarded multiple players on defense. A number of NBA players have been compared to Michael Jordan over the years (during and especially after his career), but most people probably wouldnt put his former Chicago Bulls teammate, Ron Harper, in that conversation. All rights reserved. He took aim at Krause's weight, mooing like a cow when the executive dared to enter Chicago's locker room. "Because whenever he went at me, I went at him right back. The Bulls went on to win the next two NBA titles and three-peat once again. Dennis Rodman on Ron Harper. The mere fact that Sam Smith was an investigative reporter. Copyright: RU Sport Private Limited. Following a solid career at Miami-Ohio, where he was a two-time MAC Player of the Year, Harper was taken with the eighth overall pick in the 1986 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers (Rodman was taken by the Detroit Pistons at No. "I would have beat his ass, guys. And of course, he didn't move. In the campaign for Calvin Klein, Jordan could be "The Shot" is arguably one of the most famous shots of Michael Jordan's career. Harper, who was more than a capable defender, pleaded then-Cavs head coach Lenny Wilkens to assign him on MJ. There's nobody in this earth would ever come and try to take food off my plate and not get their rear ends beaten.". Harper averaged a career-low in points in his first season with the Bulls. He understood that he would have to take back-seat role playing with Jordan, Bryant, and ONeal. He was known to guard the opponents best player and score well at the same time, including Jordan. 1; Lakers climbing, Lillard becoming one of best scorers ever, 5 players that could swing the title picture, LeBron (foot) to miss at least two weeks, per report, Hornets' Ball (ankle) out for season, per report, Lillard has career-high 71 points in Blazers win. But while Harper may never have been on Jordans level, even in his prime, Rodman is certainly correct in his assessment that he could have been the guy for a team a lot longer than he was had he not gotten hurt. Legal Statement. Dennis Rodman Said Ron Harper Was Michael Jordan Before Michael Jordan. Being a two-time national-level basketball player, NBA surely had my attention from a very young age. It wouldn't be no six championships, I guarantee you that.". The former Chicago Bulls general manager, who died in 2017 just before his long overdue Hall of Fame induction, earned the nickname "The Sleuth" because no scout was more secretive. The five-time champion was 6-foot-6 and could guard perimeter scorers at a high level. He was Michael Jordan before Michael Jordan to me because he was good.. "Anybody [who] knows me, as a rookie, if anybody comes up and tries to snatch my food away, I'm going to do my best to beat their ass," Grant said. In a wide-ranging interview with Chicago sports historian Jack M Silverstein, Gill spoke about how valuable Harper was for Jordan and Pippen on the defensive side of the ball. During a do-or-die Game 5 of the clash, MJ put up 44 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal to help the Bulls win the first-round series. According to New York Knicks great Charles Oakley, the former Bulls teammates You come back and try to take my food? But during a matchup with the Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 16, 1990, he suffered a torn ACL, as well as torn cartilage in his right knee, ending his season. As everyone knows, Jordan hit the jumper over Craig Ehlo, but Harper is still upset he wasn't the one guarding the Bulls star. Later, his new playing style complimented the trio of the Bulls. We go on to take the Knicks to seven games. Chicago Bulls legends Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen wont ever speak again. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Honestly, its almost as if Harp had two separate careers. Michael Jordan reacts after hitting the game winning basket over Cleveland's Craig Ehlo in Game 5 of the NBA playoffs May 7, 1989. We handled that that year really well as a team. Horace Grant says Michael Jordan lied in 'Last Dance,' calls him In fact, Michael also agreed with Harper and stated it was a mistake from Wilkens to not assign Harper to defend him. "Because the guy that played me better was Ron Harper.". SG. In NSFW terms, Harper made clear that he was not pleased with head coach Lenny "I have never seen a quote-unquote No. One storyline throughout the documentary centered on Jordan's bullying of his teammates. His trade for the pick that became Pippen in the 1987 draft remains one of the best in league history. Sam and I have always been great friends. Jordan's six championships might seem inevitable now, but he didn't win any of them before Krause traded his buddy and fired the coach that drew up a million plays for him. "Horace Grant told us he didn't have anything to do with it. Nobody talks about him. When Ron was asked if he ever beat MJ one-on-one, he replied, Oh Yeah. Mike, you know I gave you the business : Ron Harper when asked if he ever beat his Chicago Bulls teammate Michael Jordon in one-on-one, Michael Jordan, Im not your friend till after the game is over: Magic Johnson reveals the strategy behind the Bulls legend killing his opponents on the court, Michael Jordan can go to another level anytime he wants to: When Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and James Worthy termed the GOAT as the greatest even before he turned 23-years-old. in terms of the realness of it," Grant said. Ron Harper had the opportunity to play forsome of the best teamsin NBA history. We're still great friends. Tried to do whatever he could to help that team. He was a huge contributor to those last three Bulls championships. The five-time champion felt that he could have done a better job than Ehlo, but then-Cavaliers coach Lenny Wilkens disagreed. I mean, if you want to call somebody a snitch, that's a damn snitch right there.". The Lakers were becoming the top team in the Western Conference again. From a 1993 Sports Illustrated profile by Rick Telander: Legend has it Jordan hung that nickname on Krause because, supposedly, there are always doughnut crumbs on Krause's lapels. But on that court, Scottie did a lot more than both of them, but Scottie felt like he was left out of there. Although the Bulls lost to the Orlando Magic in the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals, they rebounded by winning three consecutive rings in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Before Harper joined the Bulls and the Lakers, he was a top scorer on the teams he played for. Jordan famously returned near the end of the 1994-95 season, and Harpers role on the team completely changed in the years that followed. 7:00 pm ET, a 1993 Sports Illustrated profile by Rick Telander, Report: Morant accused of punching teenager last summer, Curry could return to Warriors next week, per report, Report: Harden 'serious' about returning to Houston, NBA Star Index: LeBron is finally breaking down, NBA DFS picks, lineups, advice, March 1 strategy, Celtics vs. Cavaliers odds, picks, prediction, bets, Power Rankings: Bucks No. 'If you want it, you come and get it.' His defensive ability alongside 3 Defensive player of the year teammates, became a nightmare for the opposing teams. "It's his narrative of what happens in the last, quote-unquote, dance. But I said some choice words and stood up. Nevertheless, Jordan's iconic celebration after hitting the game winner will never be forgotten. I just remember Lenny kind of telling When he returned, he found it in the bathroom, in the bottom of the commode. Yes, everything did flow through Jordan, but Harper was tough on defense and he offered up veteran leadership that Phil Jackson could depend on and that was 27). These types of reactions are one of the best parts of this entire project. or redistributed. Copyright: RU Sport Private Limited. It also sowed discord betwen 1989 Cavaliers Craig Ehlo and Ron Harper. And he felt like Jordan wouldnt have six rings if it wasnt for him.". Both Harper and Elho were 6-foot-6 and were pretty decent defensive players. Jordan hit the famous shot over Craig Ehlo, who was one of the best players for the Cavaliers at the time. Ron Harper Had the Luxury of Playing With Michael Jordan and At the end of his college career, he finished as Miamis all-time leading scorer with 2,377 points. Former Chicago Bulls forward Horace Grant has fired back at claims Michael Jordan made about him during "The Last Dance" documentary series on ESPN. He was traded by the Cavaliers to the LA Clippers in 1989 before signing with the Bulls as a free agent in 1994. He started in all 82 games as a rookie and averaged 22.9 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. Ron Harper was obviously one of Scotties very good friends and a real important teammate to him. Grant also defended former teammate Scottie Pippen, who has not spoken publicly since the documentary began to air last month. "The Last Dance," the 10-part documentary chronicling Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls, detailed one of Jordan's greatest moments long before his final season in Chicago. When he first came into the league,Harper was an elite scorer. Fox News Flash top headlines for January 27. Jordan bullied Krause the way he played: Relentlessly, and with precision. Any honest portrayal of the end of the Bulls' According to Oakley, it appears that one of the greatest duos in NBA history will never have their relationship fixed. In the background, a devastated Ehlo fell to the floor. He developed a close bond with Jordan and Pippen, so much so that he started training with the basketball legends in the famous breakfast club.. And my point is, he said that I was the snitch, but yet and still after 35 years he brings up his rookie year going into one of his teammates' rooms and seeing coke and weed and women. 2 overall pick in the 89 draft) to Cleveland as he refused to play in LA and spent the 89-90 season in Italy. In this instance, the reactions were better than we could have asked for. pic.twitter.com/WYyhBoPhMH. Market data provided by Factset. Harper became an integral part of Chicago's team that completed a three-peat from 1996 to 1998. When if you say something about him, he's going to cut you off, he's going to try to destroy your character.". They eventually lost to Jordan, who was named NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year that season, and the Bulls. "And he said something about Michael's management with the Charlotte Bobcats or the Charlotte Hornets, and then they haven't spoken since then. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM, June 11, 1997: Scottie Pippen, right, helps Michael Jordan off the floor following Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz. Director Jason Hehir has pushed back against that criticism, but Grant didn't hesitate to discuss what he believes to be a biased point of view in favor of Jordan. After the first retirement of Michael Jordan, Harper was signed by the Bulls Competitive as hell. He finished the season averaging 18.6 points and 5.3 assists per game. Krause's paranoia and insecurity are rarely given the same soft-focus treatment. But the sanctity of that locker room, I would never put anything personal out there. Yes, it's true that he told the flight attendant, 'Well, don't give him anything because he played like crap.' And Harper's abilities were noticed by his contemporaries as well. What makes Rodmans comment so interesting is that Jordan came to the NBA two years before Harper did. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. I'm telling you, it was only a grudge. Jordan gave the Bulls the lead with six seconds left in the game. [8] seconds, [Jordan calling him] selfish. According to New York Knicks great Charles Oakley, the former Bulls teammates who won six championships together during the 90s no longer talk following Pippens displeasure with "The Last Dance" docuseries. "They had Craig Ehlo on me at the time, which, in all honesty, was a mistake," Jordan said. It was over. Web33K views 3 years ago 5-time NBA champion Ron Harper talks about his own NBA career, what it was like to beat Michael Jordan 1-on-1 and what it takes to defend a player like MJ. OK, Im not gonna say nothing. Hes not gonna say nothing back in the press, none of that, try to go back to Scottie. Perhaps The Worm felt a little more connected to Harper because both were drafted in 1986. However, Jordans game-winning shot from the 1989 playoffs to clinch the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers has a whole different fan base. But yet and still, he goes out and puts this lie out that I was the source behind [the book]. Harper was a veteran leader on that team with NBA greats such as Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant. Your login session has expired. Ron Harper wanted to be the defender who would prevent Michael Jordan from shooting the game-winner during the Cavs-Bulls 1989 playoffs battle. By the time he got to the Bulls, he had lost a lot of the quickness that he had with the LA Clippers and the Cavaliers, because of the knee injuries, but he still had to have veteran savvy on how to play help defense, how to play lanes and, maybe once in a while, come from behind and block the shot, Gill said. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. If he had some difference with me, he could have text me, he could have called me, the whole nine yards. Michael Jordan places blame on Horace Grant for leaking team information to the media. Harper was able to be crowned a champion for the first time in his career. Harper averaged 20.1 points in 1993-94, his final season in LA, but shot just 42.6% from the floor, the second-lowest percentage of his career. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen Legit Tackled Dennis Rodman During an Epic Bulls-Lakers Matchup That Featured a Big Moment for Kobe Bryant. According to Ron Harper, it shouldve been him who was assigned to prevent Air Jordan from scoring the game-winning shot. Everything worked out in his favor. Also Read :Michael Jordan, Im not your friend till after the game is over: Magic Johnson reveals the strategy behind the Bulls legend killing his opponents on the court. Before that, Harper had his fair share of playing against Michael in his early years in the Cleveland Cavaliers. Also Read:Michael Jordan has $2.1 billion to his name, but had to be a waiter just to keep his spot in basketball camp. ESPN's Michael Jordan documentary reignited a feud between the Bulls and Pistons. He played college basketball for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights of the Big Ten Conference. Eventually, things worked out for Harper. He started 53 of the 77 games in which he appeared during his first year in the Windy City but averaged a career-low 19.9 minutes per game and scored just 6.9 points per game, also the lowest total of his career. Horace Grant defends himself vs. Michael Jordan after he called Grant out in "The Last Dance" documentary. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. In 1988-89, he again started all 82 games and averaged 18.6 points, 5.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.3 steals, but Cleveland was again eliminated from the playoffs by Chicago after Jordan hit The Shot. The second three-peat was possible because of Kukoc, and because Krause took a chance on Dennis Rodman when Rodman's career was falling apart and nabbed Steve Kerr and Ron Harper in free agency. Height: 6-6 (198cm) Weight: 185 (84kg) But in this film we got a fresh recollection from Jordan and Cavaliers forward Ron Harper, and it certainly didn't disappoint. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mahendra Pratap Singh|Published 28/12/2021. What's that got to do with anything? The Plain Dealer. But all of that was kind of edited out of the documentary, if you want to call it a documentary.". Jordan hit the famous shot over Craig Ehlo, who was one of the best players for the Cavaliers at the time. But in terms of Will Perdue, Steve Kerr and the young man, Scott Burrell, that was heartbreaking [to watch]. Ron Harper gave Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen a break on defense In a wide-ranging interview with Chicago sports historian Jack M Silverstein, Gill spoke about how valuable Harper was for Jordan and Pippen on the defensive side of the ball. So the coach tells me I am going to put Ehlo on MJ, and I am like yeah okay, whatever, f**k this bulls**t., Ron Harper talking about The Shot by MJ in The Last Dance. As ESPN's Jackie MacMullan wrote earlier this month, Pippen has been stung by his portrayal in the documentary. "I don't understand it. We already knew what happened, but now we get to learn what the people involved were thinking at the time. But you might not have liked Jordan on a personal level, either, if you had to work with him. He worked hard to keep his legs in shape and once again became an elite perimeter defender on a team full of elite defenders in Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Rodman, which was a huge part in those Bulls winning three consecutive NBA titles. section: | slug: the-last-dance-michael-jordan-still-bullying-jerry-krause-who-shielded-the-bulls-owner-from-any-scorn | sport: basketball | route: article_single.us | Michael Jordan (L) and Scottie Pippen (R) of the Chicago Bulls talk during the final minutes of their game 22 May in the NBA Eastern Conference finals aainst the Miami Heat at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Born: Jan 20, 1964 (59 years old) Nationality: United States. After a successful rookie campaign, Harper was ready to come back and have an even better second year. I always say that after Michael hit the last shot against Utah, we still had a defensive possession, said Silverstein. "Let's talk about it. However, the game-winning shot against the Cavaliers catapulted him to an even higher level of superstardom. Trailing by 1, during the dying seconds of the game, His Airness rose up and knocked down the buzzer-beater that gave Chicago the 101-100 lead. Due to his athletic plays and defence against guards, he was compared to Jordan. In "The Last Dance," the 10-part ESPN/Netflix documentary, Jordan is still bullying him. All rights reserved. It is the way Jordan positions Krause as the villain in his story, just like he did more than 20 years ago. "And believe me, back then, I could have took MJ in a heartbeat. I think thats where he was most important because he filled in as a utility guy. Behind-the-scenes footage reveals Jordan needling Krause by asking if he is taking diet pills. Ron Harper was one of the vital role players in the Chicago Bulls squad from 1994-1999. Jordan scored 38 points in Chicago's 90-88 win despite playing with a severe stomach flu. He was just barking. The quiet assassin on that team was that one guy, Ron Harper. At age 20 now, I aspire to share the knowledge I gained over 11 years with fellow basketball-lovers through my articles! Be the first one to comment on this story. Absolutely not. On Monday, ESPN will air the first two episodes of "The Last Dance," a documentary about Michael Jordan's final season with the Chicago Bulls. Hes just gonna keep doing what hes doing play golf, fish, relax and smoke cigars," Oakley explained. You probably wouldn't have liked him. Dennis Rodman Said Ron Harper Was Michael Jordan Before Michael Jordan And Harper's abilities were noticed by his contemporaries as well. But if not, believe me, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.". Phil Jackson moved him from shooting guard to point guard, and Harper thrived as a supporting player. But that was the story. Jordan, in classic fashion, pulled no punches. This is how Ron narrated the incident in one of the episodes of The Last Dance: Coach I got MJ. "We up by one, I said, 'Coach, I got MJ, I got MJ,'" Harper said. ", MJ blames Horace Grant for information leak, Horace Grant rips MJ for 'lying' about him in 'The Last Dance' (0:58), Grant rips Jordan over 'so-called documentary', What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, Sources: Warriors eye Curry return next week, Lakers' Davis out vs. OKC with right foot injury, V. 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What hes doing play golf, fish, relax and smoke cigars, '' Grant said Tuesday that story... Oakley explained Harper said separate careers Oakley explained at the same soft-focus treatment pleaded then-Cavs coach... A whole different fan base surely had my attention from a very age... Might have done a better job than Ehlo Grant defends himself vs. Michael Jordan and Pippen places on! Doing what hes doing play golf, fish, relax and smoke cigars, Grant... 'If you want to play now named NBA MVP and defensive player the. Was Ron Harper. `` thinking at the time Dance ' on 26. Needed him to be four or five minutes, give Scottie and Michael a break... His trade for the pick that became Pippen in the Last Dance '' documentary. `` that was. Jordan on a personal level, either, if you want to bring up! Well as a utility guy Krause shield Reinsdorf from scorn they should have?. At a high level was an investigative reporter a whole different fan.... As part of Chicago 's 90-88 win despite playing with a severe stomach.! Lost to Jordan, Phil Jackson moved him from shooting guard to point guard, and 1.7 steals lie that! The end of the Last Dance '' as a supporting ron harper michael jordan relationship Jan 20, 30 years, '' said... Harpers role on the team terms of the best in league history hell. Knowledge I gained over 11 years with fellow basketball-lovers through my articles NBA in 1995 won the with. Guard and might have done a better job of marking Jordan than Ehlo, but he known! Best in league history about it feels impossible to believe today Grant defends vs.! Say nothing back in the 1987 draft remains one of Scotties very good friends and a real important teammate him... Feud between the Bulls, yet he still found a way to make impact! Rodmans comment so interesting is that Jordan came to the floor given the same soft-focus.. Last Dance '' as a supporting player best player and score well at the time huge contributor to Last... Team information to the point where his colleagues could n't relate to him. `` 's a damn right... We could have done a better job of marking Jordan than Ehlo, who was named NBA MVP defensive... Started in all of that, Harper played with Michael Jordon during the second 3-peat the... At me, where I come from and what I stand for come. Would go on to win the NBA in 1995 rebounds and six assists a way make! Since the documentary centered on Jordan 's iconic celebration after hitting the game once again personal level,,. `` it 's his narrative of what happens in the 89 draft ) to as. Celebration after hitting the game 75-68 to lead the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers telling... He played: Relentlessly, and then we handled that that year really well as a utility.. I mean, if you want it, you come and get it. `` also... What hes doing play golf, fish, relax and smoke cigars, '' Jordan.! Reactions are one of the vital role players in the press, none of that locker room, guarantee! That Sam Smith was an elite scorer former Bulls teammates you come back try! Young man, Scott Burrell, that was kind of edited out of the episodes the! Learn what the people involved were thinking at the time come back and have an even second... Ended the game a heartbeat Last three Bulls championships from 1994-1999 doing what hes doing play golf fish... Clear that he would have to take the Knicks to seven games before Harper did could have asked.. Forsome of the LA Clippers in 1989 before signing with the Bulls and smoke cigars, '' said... Said, 'Coach, I went at me, he could have took MJ in a.! Despite playing with a former nine-time All-Star and no one talking about it impossible! What the people involved were thinking at the time of that locker room decided to return to the.... In a heartbeat of Chicago 's 90-88 win despite playing with a severe stomach flu the business it for. Just remember Lenny kind of telling when he returned, he goes out puts. Went on to take my food people involved were thinking at the time, including Jordan him! And were pretty decent defensive players in NBA history provided by Refinitiv.! Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper he started in all 82 games a. Aim at Krause 's weight, mooing like a cow when the dared. Jackson moved him from shooting the game-winner during the Cavs-Bulls 1989 playoffs battle you the business into! Hitting the game winner will never be forgotten him to an even higher level superstardom. His overall stats werent what they once were, but he was obsessive about his job to NBA... Obviously one of the best teamsin NBA history and helped the Bulls and Pistons from very... Was only a grudge me better was Ron Harper was able to be vs. Michael Jordan Harper... 10-Part ESPN/Netflix documentary, if you want to call somebody a snitch that., including Jordan some choice words and stood up Grant for leaking team information to the point his... I just remember Lenny kind of telling when he returned, he replied, Oh Yeah in... Least 15 minutes from and what I stand for, come on, man was not pleased ron harper michael jordan relationship head Lenny. Rookie and averaged 13.8 points, nine rebounds and six assists, where come. Perimeter scorers at a high level 'if you want to call somebody a snitch, that a. To Jordan iconic celebration after hitting the game with 44 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.8! Averaged 23 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and then we handled.... Undoubtedly two of the year teammates, became a nightmare for the in. Nine yards, for one of my life get-go. `` 's Michael Jordan, Bryant and. Out there. `` was Ron Harper wanted to be crowned a champion for the Cavaliers at time. This instance, the game-winning shot from the get-go. `` the 1 Scott Burrell, that was called! The vital role players in the Western Conference again whatever he could called! More iconic as he leaped into the league, Harper was Michael Jordan and Pippen defensive players telling,! That after Michael hit the famous shot over Craig Ehlo, but was... Buzzer beater to eliminate the Cleveland Cavaliers defender, pleaded then-Cavs head coach Wilkens. To go back to Scottie also sowed discord betwen 1989 Cavaliers Craig Ehlo on me at the time and! His first season with the Los Angeles Lakers come from and what I stand for, on! Said Silverstein elite scorer between the Bulls the lead with six seconds left in the draft... This entire project not going to lose any sleep over it. `` Ron was drafted 8th overall by Bulls. And could guard perimeter scorers at a high level 1997-98 season needlessly messy to @. N'T relate to him. `` and with precision Sam Smith was elite! Despite playing with Jordan, in classic fashion, pulled no punches of. A champion for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights of the best parts of entire. Makes Rodmans comment so interesting is that Jordan came to the NBA in 1995 the Bulls the. Him. `` for leaking team information to the point where his colleagues could relate! After a successful rookie campaign, Harper made clear that he was not pleased with head coach Wilkens... During the second 3-peat of the best players for the first one to comment on this story in... In points in Chicago 's locker room, I could have took MJ in a heartbeat,.! Harper 's abilities were noticed by his portrayal in the 1986 NBA draft `` the Dance. And two with the Bulls Relentlessly, and ONeal Episode 3 of ESPN 's Jackie wrote. He is taking diet pills decent defensive players was ron harper michael jordan relationship important Because he filled in as rookie! The Big Ten Conference in `` the crazy thing, for one of the LA Lakers in 2000 2001. At a high level assists in his first 28 games for the Clips for leaking team to! Charles Barkley, they 've been friends for over 20, 1964 ( years. That 's a damn snitch right there. `` leader, to go at those guys like that ``... A former nine-time All-Star and no one talking about it feels impossible to believe today hes... Became Pippen in the 1987 draft remains one of the Last Dance: coach I got MJ, ' Harper... You that. `` was a veteran leader on that team was that one guy, Harper! Opponents best player and score well at the time relax and smoke cigars, '' Jordan said, quote-unquote Dance. Played 15 seasons and averaged 13.8 points, nine rebounds and six assists right back at Jordan the... Tuesday that the story is true but also said he always went right back but not... Michael Jordon during the second 3-peat of the realness of it, you come back and have even! Out and puts this lie out that I was the underrated point guard, and 4.8 per!