She worked several jobs to support the family, including as a school teacher and on an assembly line at a General Motors plant.

He later transferred to Kiser High School in Dayton and as a senior averaged 20.5 points, 13.4 rebounds, five assists, five steals and six blocked shots and was named first-team All-Ohio.

[8] In his senior season, on March 8, 1985, he set both a Miami and a MAC tournament single-game scoring record of 45 points in one game (as well as snaring 18 rebounds).

He also became the first MAC player in history to record a triple-double with 38 points, 19 rebounds and 12 assists against Ball State University.

He also holds Miami's all-time records for career scoring average (19.8), games started (118), minutes played (4,164), field goals (969), and blocked shots (173).

[17] In 1993–94, his fourth full season with the Clippers and eighth in the NBA, he played and started in 75 games, averaging 20.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.6 assists and 1.9 steals.

[18] On September 15, 1994, Harper signed a free-agent deal with the Chicago Bulls, who were reloading following the first retirement of Michael Jordan.

[19] 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.

[22] It was a record-setting season for the Bulls as the team, coached by Phil Jackson and led by Jordan and Scottie Pippen and with Harper playing a key role, had a then NBA all-time best record of 72–10.

They then defeated the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and Orlando Magic in the first three rounds of the playoffs en route to winning their fourth NBA championship four games to two over the Seattle SuperSonics.

The Bulls had another dominant regular season with a record of 69–13 as they defeated the Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat in the first three rounds of the playoffs en route to winning their fifth NBA championship, this time four games to two over the Utah Jazz.

[10] The Bulls had a regular-season record of 62–20 as they defeated the New Jersey Nets, Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers in the first three rounds of the playoffs en route to winning their sixth NBA championship, again four games to two over the Utah Jazz.

[26] During the 1999–2000 season, Harper started 78 of 80 games playing much the same role as he did for the Bulls, averaging 7.0 ppg and finishing second on the Lakers in steals behind Kobe Bryant.

Led by Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers won 67 games and secured the league's best record as they defeated the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers in the first three rounds of the playoffs.

In the final minute of game 3 in Portland, Harper caught a pass from Bryant in the left corner and sank a 19-foot jump shot with 29.9 seconds remaining to give the Lakers a 93–91 lead.

On the final play of the game, Harper helped Bryant block a shot by Arvydas Sabonis to seal the Lakers' victory.

By season's end, Derek Fisher had taken over the starting point guard slot, and Harper would only play in six games during the playoffs.

On November 1, 1997, Ron Harper appeared in the Nickelodeon sitcom Kenan & Kel, in the episode titled "Foul Bull".