Ron Harper Sr. is a former professional basketball player. Harper starred at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio for four seasons from 1982-83 through 1985–86. As a sophomore, he led the team in scoring with 16.3 points per game and in rebounding with 7.6 per game, as Miami went 24-6 and won the Mid-American Conference championship, the MAC tournament championship, and earned a berth in the NCAA tournament.

He played for four teams in the NBA between 1986 and 2001 and is a five-time NBA champion. In 1989 Harper was traded to the Clippers. In the 91-92' season, Harper led the Clippers to a playoff berth, as well as the following year. Harper signed with the Chicago Bullsin 1994, replacing Michael Jordan during his first retirement. Harper found his niche with the Bulls upon Jordan's return, eventually becoming a fan favorite by reinventing himself as a big perimeter defender, ball handler, and mid-range scorer. It was in here in Chicago Harper would earn three of his five NBA championships. The Lakers signed him as a free agent in 1999. In Lose Angeles, Harper won two more NBA titles with Shaq and Kobe Bryant. 

In 2005, Harper signed as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons. Harper has battled stuttering for most of his life, and donates his time to the National Stuttering Association to encourage others with this problem to not let it hinder them.