Ron Harper Sr. on if he planned for both of his sons to become NBA players: “I’m not LeBron James. I’m not going to tell my kids what they have to do.”
Dylan wanted to interrupt him so bad lol
“Dad…ok now, chillll”
Daddy chilll
What even is that?
What the hell is even that?
Probably my all time favorite internet quote.
Not enough upvotes lmao.
That is real parenting let them choose their own path and just support them along the way
Except Ron wasn’t really an active parent to his sons. They grew up with their mom after the divorce and she was the one who trained them in basketball.
He had some nerve bringing lebron up then. Lebron’s a way better man.
making way too many assumptions about his life based off a random post on reddit
I think you guys are making a bunch of assumptions without knowing the family dynamic. We don’t know everything but a 2023 article focusing on Maria Harper and her involvement with Dylan has this quote about Ron’s involvement:
In 2007, following a two-year stint as an assistant coach with the Pistons, Ron Sr. moved to New Jersey. Today, he and his fiancée live with her three children in Suffern, which is just eight miles away from Maria’s house and two miles from Don Bosco Prep. Dylan and Mia usually spend a couple of nights a week at Ron Sr.’s place, and Ron Sr. was able to make it to most of Ron Jr.’s games at Rutgers. He also attends Dylan’s games and Mia’s dance competitions. “It’s awesome to get this chance, because when I was playing I didn’t spend enough time with them,” he says. Yet, Ron Sr. did not go to Peach Jam, and he stays away from the bigger camps and tournaments. When he attends Dylan’s high school games, he sits quietly high in the bleachers. And when college coaches call to talk about Dylan, Ron Sr. sends them to his mom. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of him, but I don’t want this to be about me,” he says. This is Maria’s preference as well. “People ask me, why doesn’t he come? And my answer is, because it’s always been me,” Maria says. “I give him a lot of credit. He respects that. If a college coach calls him, he says, ‘Don’t call me. You gotta call her. She’s the one who calls the shots.’”
In 2007, following a two-year stint as an assistant coach with the Pistons, Ron Sr. moved to New Jersey. Today, he and his fiancée live with her three children in Suffern, which is just eight miles away from Maria’s house and two miles from Don Bosco Prep. Dylan and Mia usually spend a couple of nights a week at Ron Sr.’s place, and Ron Sr. was able to make it to most of Ron Jr.’s games at Rutgers. He also attends Dylan’s games and Mia’s dance competitions. “It’s awesome to get this chance, because when I was playing I didn’t spend enough time with them,” he says.
Yet, Ron Sr. did not go to Peach Jam, and he stays away from the bigger camps and tournaments. When he attends Dylan’s high school games, he sits quietly high in the bleachers. And when college coaches call to talk about Dylan, Ron Sr. sends them to his mom. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of him, but I don’t want this to be about me,” he says. This is Maria’s preference as well. “People ask me, why doesn’t he come? And my answer is, because it’s always been me,” Maria says. “I give him a lot of credit. He respects that. If a college coach calls him, he says, ‘Don’t call me. You gotta call her. She’s the one who calls the shots.’”
A 2017 article about Ron Harper Jr.’s play indicated the couple is still close and that both his parents are involved, with Ron seemingly playing a more lowkey role and Maria playing the prominent one, consistent with the above regarding Dylan.
It’s clear Maria played the much bigger role, but both parents know that, agree upon that, and from what we know, Ron’s been seemingly active enough being involved with his sons.
Like u/Mangoseed8 said, divorce doesn’t always mean both parents don’t stay involved. So I think folks should stop jumping to conclusions if you weren’t there or in the absence of a direct quote saying anything differently.
I assume that Ron had something to do with the basketball training if both kids made it to the NBA.
Just cause they lived with their mom doesn’t mean he wasn’t active! You act like you were around them.
Buddy never heard of divorce. My parents were divorced and my dad was very active in my life. Those things are not mutually exclusive.
Did you see him on draft night when Dylan was selected with the #2 pick? He purposely stayed away precisely because he really didn’t have anything to do with his son becoming an NBA player. Except for the genes, of course.
mom wasn’t too bad herself on the genetics end, coach and former d1 player
And Filipina! Got those boys the good looks
Or maybe he wanted his son to have all of the moment?
You could see him fighting the urge like alright dad that’s enough 😭
He was holding it in so hard you could see it on his face lowkey wholesome though just let the kid cook
So say that without tearing down another parent smh
He knows the reporters are going to follow up with him and not his dad.
Fuck the reporters. Who’s lebron about to follow up with?
“Come on now… I still have to play against him and now he’s going to drop 30 on me.”
He knows how Donovan Mitchell felt now 😭
“Dad you know we’re still playing him right”
Ron Harper Sr last year btw. “@KingJames all these dummies are mad at you for giving your kid a chance to chase his dreams I would do the same thing too!!!!! It’s ok to be a proud dad…..”
The duality of (this) man!
That is hilarious the receipts always come back around in the NBA world
They do this on purpose. They know NBA reddit is gonna repost and people are going to talk on Twitter and ESPN is gonna rant. More spotlight on the sons.
You honestly believe they care about reddit?
bro thinks bron is scrolling r/nba every night
Yea in his tighty whiteys eating ice cream Twinkling his athletes feet
bron just like me fr
You have athletic feets to?
You know Kevin Durant is though.
he definitely scrolls on r/Lebron
There was like a 3 year period where Windy and all were wording their tweets so that we’d pick up on them. People said it was silly when I pointed it out and then they flat out admitted it a few years later.
Fr this place ain’t even a thought on their minds lol I don’t think of this sub outside of using it, why the hell would a millionaire athletes give a shit
Random receipt coming with a steel chair
Half this sub seems immune to understanding the basic human concept of “fucking around”
Every statement is life or death in here
It’s because it’s hard for average people to imagine being interviewed constantly, so they look at it like every answer is calculated.
Doesn’t help Lebron really sells you on that idea.
You should’ve seen the dumb asses thinking Giannis was being a dick to Dylan earlier
I don’t think those two quotes are necessarily connected. On one hand, he’s saying he shouldn’t be ashamed of being a proud dad. On the other, he’s acknowledging that he’d do some things differently and that he’s not LeBron James.
Those two ideas can coexist.
The two ideas could coexist in a theoretical world where we know LeBron forced his sons to work towards the NBA as a primary goal.
I’m a pretty big LeBron fan who’s decently online. I don’t surf hate forums, so maybe I just missed it, but I’ve someone gone this far without ever seeing anything about LeBron deciding for his children that they’ll be NBA players.
So yeah — it’d be helpful if you can you link me the clip where LeBrons admitting to doing that, bc its def a misstep if true. But I have a weird feeling that like a lot of LeBron hate, it’s either completely fabricated or a mischaracterization of something LeBrons said in the past. Like Lavar Ball, that feels like a more apt person Harper could’ve referred to than LeBron.
But again, i dont look at hate forums, so i might just be ignorant
I feel like LeBron had to have pushed bronny to jump to the league in some way cus I dont see a world where he isn’t at least saying “well some teams are interested in u bronny even tho u were bad in college and had a heart attack”. From purely an outside point of view, someone had to push bronny a little cus the way more logical option would be for him to actually get a full year of college to increase his draft stock for the draft the year after. 2024 is also looking like it might be the weakest class we’ll have all decade, so that likely played a part in it. At the very least, Rich Paul had to have been telling bronny stuff to push him to declare for the draft instead of staying
Not saying LeBron purposely pushed Bronny but publicly saying he wants to stay in the league long enough to play with his kid would put pressure on Bronny to get to the NBA ASAP. I thought he would quit basketball after his health scare or at least stay in school to try to bounce back or get a degree as a fall back but he kept on like normal.
His dad is a billionaire, he doesn’t need a degree as a fall back
I’m thinking LeBron didn’t raise his children to be bums. They technically don’t ever need to work ever but they will
No my point is that he’ll be a nepo child regardless. Lebron owns/ is a piece in many businesses. Bonny can get a well paying job. And everyone always talks for bronny. He’s an adult. He seems well adjusted and has a good work ethic. I think he’ll be fine
They could literally make a ton of money just off being streamers if they wants
Minor correction, but Bronny was part of the 2024 draft class. 2023 was Wembanyama’s class.
Yeah ur right got my years mixed up
Lakers werent only team interested in him tho
He turned down multiple visit requests (probably forced to basically but yk)
That’s just due diligence. He hardly played anything meaningful in his collegiate career. They just need their own eyes on before making a decision. Players who turn down visits/tryouts are basically saying they only want to be available to some places.
Right or wrong, I don’t think you need to be a member of a “hate forum” to think Bron pushed his kids to make it to the NBA
I think it’s poking fun at Lebron, not insulting him or his parenting.
hes getting up there i doubt he remembers saying that…in a few months he wont remember this
The man is 62, good lord.
Put him in a home already.
Probably didn’t think or see how Bronny actually played lol
I think he was just joking bro lmao
How could you have possibly remembered he said this a year ago?
He says shit about Bron every once in a while on Twitter and this is always posted as receipts so it wasn’t too long since I’ve seen it lol
This doesn’t really contradict what he said
giving your kid a chance to chase his dreams
This implies it’s the kids dream to play in the NA
Versus the quote in the video implying he forced his kids into basketball and him saying he didn’t
Typical 90’s Bull player…always flip flopping his opinion and saying some wild stuff towards Lebron
A hypocrite in his natural habitat.
Changed up real quick now that his sons are featuring in the all star weekend.
Dylans reaction lmfao. “Dad dont embarrass me”
The klutch sports black trucks coming
“nice knowing you dad”
You just know he was thinking please not right now dad 😭
No “Dad don’t get me black balled from the NBA” LOL
Bron is on the phone right now with Adam Silver “destroy them! they can’t get away with this”
Bro did the full Del Bosque
Kinda crazy that people don’t realize he’s joking
It’s Reddit. Actually just social media in general
The studies in the future of the impact of social media on society will be interesting
I’m pretty sure I saw some report last week that Gen Z is the first generation to have a lower IQ than prior generations. I’m sure social media is a large contributing factor.
Na it’s not, in the USA at least the Government specifically the reps has Been pushing to lower School budgets by saying “all them administrators getting too much money” the general populace thinks yeah fuck those guys, so they slash budgets not realizing those guys are not cutting their paychecks but all the new teachers and all school stuff and utilities are.
You could throw 500 billion at the education system. It won’t fix it. Culture and parenting is at odds with what kids see and adapt their mindsets to on social media.
The fact that 12-20year olds can blow up on social media, rake in millions, makes many kids see school and college as less than. This is one of the cons of freedom. It will only get worse from here.
Even if they had the same education as the previous two generations, I’d put money down that they’d still end up with lower IQ’s
the previous two generations said the same about yours…
I don’t know about lower IQ but their response to sarcasm definitely needs some tune up. They can get a little too sensitive. But that’s hardly a deal breaker these days. I definitely think they are the most compassionate out of all the prior generations.
Yes but Reddit actually more so
I mean even his kids weren’t feeling it lol
Typical embarrassing dad behavior. That’s all.
Plus, LeBron’s still in the league. If LeBron’s at all taking this personally, the sons will get the belting from him, not their dad lol
If your kids think you are funny than you’re just not being corny enough
Kids are so regularly embarrassed by their dad’s jokes that we quite literally invented a phrase to describe a common type of cringe-worthy jokes that dad’s tell. Sometimes I feel like some of you have never interacted with another person in your entire life.
What’s that joke though? Do him and LeBron have some kind of history?
eh i picked up on it but its just kinda outta left field
Explain the joke
Ron Harper spoke out and said that LeBron is just a proud dad and he would have used his influence to get his kid into the league if he were in the same position. So since he said that, him now saying the opposite while smiling might not be a “joke” but he’s at the least trying to be humorous.
Ah so the joke is that it wasn’t actually a joke
Yeah let’s just go with that so you stop talking to me
Disrespect disguised as a joke isn’t a joke
A joke isn’t always setup then surprise, now laugh. He’s very much implying, by the way he’s saying it, that it’s meant in a joking manner. You know how you can tell? By the people around the podium laughing. Crazy, I know.
Still a joke, only a soft person will think otherwise
Youre soft as shit this was funny
trying to be humerous
Yeah, but does he have a leg to stand on?
That fucking u/sunbomb boomed me
Yea he is very clearly trolling
I just wish he wasn’t is all
For real, there are comments overanalyzing. He was clearly poking fun.
Ron is about to go on Twitter and cuss out all the LeBron fans lmao
His Twitter is crazy, he has no chill, lol
not many people realize that he’s on twitter tbh but he’s always commenting on tweets here and there…
Harp gonna harp
One of the all-time great online sports presences. I’ll never get tired of him searching on Dylan’s mentions and randomly telling his haters to shut the fuck up.
Dylan Harper better say his goodbyes now, because Rich Paul is pulling up with the snipers as we speak
Adele: see you on the other sideeeeeee
Ron: huh
I’m actually neighbors with Ron Harper. Funny enough, I just saw a bunch of black SUVs pull up to his house and several guys in black suits get out and and start planting listening devices everywhere
Ron Harper is one of the most underrated 3rd/4th option players … he didn’t stuff the stat sheet because he was playing on a stacked Bulls team but he went from scoring 20 a game to 6-10 a game simply because he had to conform to the Jordan/Pippen/Kukoc driven offense. He played 25-30mins a game for some of the most dominant teams of all time and was as a player who could guard the ball, great in transition, and a major hustle player.
I have no idea what his advanced stats say but he was never a great shooter (not terrible for his day), he was the type of player to impact the game in subtle ways. Seems like a guy who today would get a lot more flowers because theres better advanced stats and an understanding of the value of 2-way role players who can guard the ball and contribute to winning basketball without big points per game stats (Caruso, Dort, Josh Hart, Braun, etc.).
No one had a better engine. He could go 6 quarters if you asked him to. You’re right that the league is currently obsessed with his 2 way archetype.
Harper was my guy in the OG NBA JAM. Harper for 3! He’s on fire!
He was a talent who transitioned gracefully into being a role player. Look at where he was drafted
Talking about LeBron is literally free press. Surprised more of the NBA isnt doing it
All of the NBA is literally doing it. This video is proof.
A more appropriate response would be not being Lavar Ball.
Ron Harper is closer to Lebron than Lavar is to Brian Scalabrine.
Kind of a weird answer
Why does everybody treat LeBron like he’s a robot lol
Former nba players talking about LeBron like redditors would smh come on man
Draymond gonna take that personally… on his kids.
Dray is about to cup check the closest man to him
lol. if anything lebron seem like a pretty good father so i feel like this was a bad joke.
Harper is just trolling LeBron. LeBron knows Harper doesn’t believe this
Son like Pops stfu who knows if LeBron pushed for Bronny to play basketball.. Dad trippin
im pretty sure he’s answering in jest.
Old heads just can’t help themselves. Weirdo energy. When has LeBron ever pushed either of his kids to becoming an NBA player; if anything he made Bronny’s dreams come true because no one was drafting him.
Just celebrate your kids, why you gotta hate for no reason. Even his kids knew pops was trippin’ with that answer
if anything he made Bronny’s dreams come true because no one was drafting him.
Ok that’s sweet but also hilarious lol
older players do not like LeBron, we see it time and time again
It’s p well documented that Klutch blocked any1 else from drafting him
When has LeBron ever pushed either of his kids to becoming an NBA player;
Probably when he said he wants to play with his son in the NBA, being 100% serious, when he was still barely a high school player.
Kinda weird but aight
Random unnecessary shot that’s just not true.
Edit: Just saw Dylan Harper’s reaction. I know he’s embarrassed.
Oh shit, Dylan Harper has “that” dad….
One of many dads who tell jokes, indeed.
She has “that” mom too.
People upset by this should be tossed in the sea.
[ Removed by Klutch Sports ]
He’s been hating on Bron on Twitter too. Do people really think Bron sat there and told Bronny and Bryce to be basketball players? If so why isnt he doing the same with his daughter im pretty sure she’s doing volleyball and some acting stuff
Dylan is so embarrassed. Even as a joke, this doesnt make sense with where Bryce’s college career is going.
This is so corny. Guy has 2 kids in the league im sure they magically decided to dedicate their lives to basketball
lol, pretty sure this is just some trash talking among NBA dads
he is not serious, for sure its a joke and I bet LeBron laughed
the reality is all these boys want to be NBA players like their dad, for sure there is no question
Laker fans are fuming right now LMAO
“I’m not LeBron James” HARD STOP
we know Ron. Not the player. Not the teammate. Not the father. Nor the business man.
Cant blame him his a jordan loyalist so there you have it
Questioning and making assumptions about another man’s parenting bold strategy cotton!
Is this some kind of weird proxy-MJ shade?
Hope they play defense like Ron
weak sauce . To suggest that LeBron is making his adult sons do anything, is ridiculous.
Weird as fuck. He’s talking about his own kids and LeBron is on his mind
Random shade
If you want to aggregate yourself and enter the algorithm, just mention LeBron lol. It’s the oldest trick alive.
oh the jealousy and envy runs DEEP
Klutch black vans pulling up to the Harper residence as we speak
Hmmm… this the man who tweeted out that a trade would happen if the Jazz were to draft Dylan?
LeBron: ‘What he say fuck me for?’
It seems like Dylan isn’t happy about this answer.
No matter who your dad is, kids going be embarrassed sometimes.
5 time NBA Champion Ron Harper
This is awesome banter from Ron Sr
By no means am I a big fan of LeBron, but if there is one thing LeBron can be described as undeniably, it’s a good husband/father and a good role model for young NBA players on handling their business. This comment is so unwarranted, unnecessary, and just stupid.
I am not Lebron James. I’m gonna say snappy stuff and embarrass my son right in front of everyone
What a stupid ass thing to say lmao.
The idea that Bron forced his son to…be in the NBA and get a fat contract is kinda funny.
What a weird thing to say.
Everything I’ve seen since Dylan got drafted gives the impression of a father that wasn’t active in his kids life and now really overcompensates for it
Lebron has always said his kids can do whatever they want
That’s not a roast. That’s a nuke from orbit.
Well damn lol
Wait, that’s actually a crazy shot lol
It felt like a light hearted joke imo
If you’re in the NBA, better to just keep your dad out of the picture.
Unless he’s Lebron, I guess.
Damn Jordan’s bulls were really stacked they had this guy too
NBA old heads gotta be the worst out of all the professional sports leagues.
Here’s your reminder that Ron Harper has more rings than LeBron
Weird, unnecessary response.
Lebrons kids could do anything in the world. They’re great grandkids great grandkids are financially free already.
He didn’t push them to be in the NBA. This is some crazy slander lol
You would think older people would be more media savvy.
It’s crazy how different Dylan is from Ron.
Lebron also didn’t divorce his wife who by all accounts was much more involved.
All the interviews have been better than the games.
He says literally over his kid
Ron Harper be wanting attention so bad
Bron a way better father than Ron will ever be
We all know Bronny wanted to play with snow for four years
Suck a weird unnecessary thing to say lol no one even brought Bron up or was thinking about him.
0 reason to say LeBron’s name
We wouldnt be seeing the clip though. He knows how to get 15 mins of fame
Well played old man… well played
He should have said, “LaVar Ball”.
Ron is trolling. It’s a joke for those of you who can’t sense humor
Hasn’t Lebron said a thousand times that he supports what Bronny wants to do even his gaming and Bronny said he wants to play in the NBA
What a hater
I mean he doesn’t have any influence to ‘push’ his kids anyway, not that there’s any evidence that Lebron pushed his kids to play basketball.