Ron Harper Jr. discusses Celtics' two-way deal and why he's playing more freely

A day after the Boston Celtics closed out the preseason with a 110-108 victory vs. the Toronto Raptors, they signed Ron Harper Jr. to a two-way deal. The former St. John's star beat out RJ Luis Jr., Kendall Brown, Jalen Bridges, and Wendell Moore Jr., among others.

"I just came in and worked hard," said Harper Friday at the Auerbach Center. "I was kind of unaware of the opportunity that was going to present itself. A testament to the hard work and dedication, and the work that I put in with the team."

While it's just the start of the journey, it's an ideal way to begin his second stint with the franchise. The six-foot-four guard went to Summer League with the Sin City Celtics last year. He then joined their G League affiliate in Maine.

Harper's play there earned him an opportunity on a two-way deal with the Detroit Pistons. It's a chance he credits his previous organization for helping him earn.

"Last training camp, I was really grateful because I learned a lot of things," shared Harper. "I felt like that was a big part of me getting a two-way in Detroit, and me getting that opportunity."

So, when the Pistons waived him this offseason, where'd he take his talents to next was clear once the Celtics got involved.

"I was gathering options, and my agent mentioned Boston would love to have me back," relayed Harper. "When the opportunity came to come back, that was something I jumped on very quick."

A weight off Ron Harper Jr.'s shoulder

During Harper's first stint with the Celtics' organization, he wasn't far removed from a shoulder surgery that cost him his two-way spot with the Toronto Raptors.

He's not just healthier now, he's more confident; less restricted physically and mentally.

"Basketball's a big mental game," Harper told Hardwood Houdini. "So, going through surgery, going through that with my shoulder, I was dealing with a lot of confidence issues. Getting to the basket, I was real nervous about bumping into people. But now, I feel like I'm more free. I feel like my shoulder's in a real good place."

Then he quipped, "It feels like a weight off my shoulder — literally."

With that burden lifted, Harper capitalized on another challenge that helped him earn his new two-way contract: maximizing his opportunities despite coming in cold.

He didn't know when he would enter Boston's preseason contests. He just knew he'd be on the bench for a while, and it was his job to ensure he was ready when his name got called.

"Nobody cares if you sat for five minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes; if you go out there and don't produce, it looks bad whether you had 10 minutes to warm up or you had no minutes. So, just going in there with the right mindset," Harper told Hardwood Houdini. "Trying to get yourself in the flow of the game."

And as Joe Mazzulla noted, Harper earning his two-way deal went beyond what he demonstrated during the preseason.

"It was more than just what he did during his training camp," stated Mazzulla. "I think having him last year coming off of an injury and what he was able to do from last year to now, how much better he's gotten, and then just the work that he put in.

"His ability to be a two-way player, shooting has gotten better, can think the game, and then he competed at a high level, so we're glad to have him, and he's got just as much of an opportunity to play as anyone else."