Ron Harper vs. Fred VanVleet Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Fred VanVleet and Ron Harper, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Stats / Stats Rankings

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Ron Harper played 15 years in the NBA, 6 more than Fred VanVleet, who played 9. Ron Harper had the first of his seasons in 1986-87, while Fred VanVleet had his rookie season in 2016-17. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achievements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Ron Harper 15 10 1986-87 to 2000-01
Fred VanVleet 9 6 2016-17 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9

Rookie Season

Ron Harper Fred VanVleet
Season 1986-872016-17
Team Cleveland CavaliersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 82 37.4 22.9 2.1 2.7 4.8 4.8 2.5 1.0 4.2 3.0 9.0 19.7 .455 0.2 1.1 .213 4.7 6.9 .684
difference:+45+29.5+20.0+2.0+1.7+3.7+3.9+2.1+0.9-3.8-2.0+7.9+16.7+.104+0.1+0.3+.166+4.2+6.3+.134
Fred VanVleet 37 7.9 2.9 0.1 1.0 1.1 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.0 1.1 3.0 .351 0.3 0.8 .379 0.5 0.6 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper DNP------ --- ----------
Fred VanVleet 7 4.1 2.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.9 1.3 .667 0.3 0.7 .400 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Ron Harper Fred VanVleet
Season 1987-882017-18
Team Cleveland CavaliersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 57 32.1 15.4 1.1 2.8 3.9 4.9 2.1 0.9 2.8 2.8 6.0 12.8 .464 0.1 0.4 .150 3.4 4.9 .705
difference:+19+12.1+6.8+0.8+0.7+1.5+1.7+1.2+0.6-1.8-1.1+2.9+5.6+.038+1.3+3.0+.264+2.3+3.6+.127
Fred VanVleet 76 20.0 8.6 0.3 2.1 2.4 3.2 0.9 0.3 1.0 1.7 3.1 7.2 .426 1.4 3.4 .414 1.1 1.3 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 4 33.5 17.8 1.0 4.0 5.0 3.8 2.8 1.0 2.8 2.3 7.5 15.8 .476 0.0 0.5 .000 2.8 4.0 .688
difference:+2+14.5+11.0+1.0+2.3+3.3+1.6+2.8+1.0-2.1-1.0+5.3+9.3+.143+1.3+4.2+.286+1.6+2.7+.187
Fred VanVleet 6 19.0 6.8 0.0 1.7 1.7 2.2 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.3 2.2 6.5 .333 1.3 4.7 .286 1.2 1.3 .875

Season 3

Ron Harper Fred VanVleet
Season 1988-892018-19
Team Cleveland CavaliersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 82 34.8 18.6 1.5 3.5 5.0 5.3 2.3 0.9 2.8 2.7 7.2 14.0 .511 0.4 1.4 .250 3.9 5.2 .751
difference:+18+7.3+7.6+1.2+1.2+2.4+0.5+1.4+0.6-1.5-1.0+3.4+4.6+.101+1.4+3.2+.128+2.4+3.4+.092
Fred VanVleet 64 27.5 11.0 0.3 2.3 2.6 4.8 0.9 0.3 1.3 1.7 3.8 9.4 .410 1.8 4.6 .378 1.5 1.8 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 5 37.8 19.6 1.4 2.8 4.2 4.0 2.2 0.8 1.4 4.0 7.8 13.8 .565 0.0 0.4 .000 4.0 5.2 .769
difference:+19+13.1+11.6+1.1+1.4+2.5+1.4+1.4+0.5-0.5-2.0+5.1+6.9+.173+1.6+3.7+.388+3.0+3.9+.005
Fred VanVleet 24 24.7 8.0 0.3 1.4 1.7 2.6 0.8 0.3 0.9 2.0 2.7 6.9 .392 1.6 4.1 .388 1.0 1.3 .774

Season 4

Ron Harper Fred VanVleet
Season 1989-902019-20
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles ClippersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 35 39.1 22.8 2.1 3.8 5.9 5.2 2.3 1.2 2.9 3.0 8.6 18.2 .473 0.4 1.5 .275 5.2 6.6 .788
difference:+19+3.4+5.2+1.8+0.4+2.1+1.4+0.4+0.9-0.7-0.6+2.7+3.9+.060+2.3+5.4+.115+2.1+2.9+.060
Fred VanVleet 54 35.7 17.6 0.3 3.4 3.8 6.6 1.9 0.3 2.2 2.4 5.9 14.3 .413 2.7 6.9 .390 3.1 3.7 .848
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper DNP------ --- ----------
Fred VanVleet 11 39.1 19.6 0.5 3.9 4.4 6.9 1.6 0.6 2.0 2.5 6.9 17.3 .400 3.9 10.0 .391 1.9 2.3 .840

Season 5

Ron Harper Fred VanVleet
Season 1990-912020-21
Team Los Angeles ClippersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 39 35.5 19.6 1.5 3.3 4.8 5.4 1.7 0.9 3.3 2.8 7.3 18.7 .391 1.2 3.8 .324 3.7 5.6 .668
difference:+13+1.0+0.9+0.3+0.6+0.9+0.2-1.5-0.5+0.8+2.0+.002+2.1+5.4+.042+0.4+1.9+.217
Fred VanVleet 52 36.5 19.6 0.6 3.6 4.2 6.3 1.7 0.7 1.8 2.3 6.5 16.7 .389 3.3 9.2 .366 3.3 3.7 .885
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Ron Harper nor Fred VanVleet played in the postseason in their season 5

Season 6

Ron Harper Fred VanVleet
Season 1991-922021-22
Team Los Angeles ClippersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdRaptors Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 82 38.3 18.2 1.5 4.0 5.5 5.1 1.9 0.9 3.1 2.4 6.9 15.8 .440 0.8 2.6 .303 3.6 4.9 .736
difference:+17+0.4+2.1+0.8+0.2+1.1+1.6+0.2+0.4-0.5-0.1+0.1+1.1+.037+2.9+7.3+.074+0.6+1.5+.138
Fred VanVleet 65 37.9 20.3 0.7 3.8 4.4 6.7 1.7 0.5 2.6 2.5 6.8 16.9 .403 3.7 9.9 .377 3.0 3.4 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 5 41.2 18.0 2.0 4.4 6.4 4.6 1.0 0.8 3.0 2.6 7.8 17.4 .448 0.2 1.8 .111 2.2 2.8 .786
difference:+1+6.2+4.2+1.5+1.9+3.4+1.7+0.8+0.2-2.0-0.4+3.0+3.9+.096+2.8+7.2+.222+0.9+1.3+.047
Fred VanVleet 4 35.0 13.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.3 1.8 1.0 1.0 3.0 4.8 13.5 .352 3.0 9.0 .333 1.3 1.5 .833

Season 7

Ron Harper Fred VanVleet
Season 1992-932022-23
Team Los Angeles ClippersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 80 37.1 18.0 1.5 3.9 5.3 4.5 2.2 0.9 2.8 2.7 6.8 15.0 .451 0.7 2.3 .280 3.8 5.0 .769
difference:+11+0.4+1.3+1.1+0.3+1.2+2.7+0.4+0.3-0.8-0.1+0.5+1.1+.058+2.3+6.5+.062+0.1+0.9+.129
Fred VanVleet 69 36.7 19.3 0.4 3.6 4.1 7.2 1.8 0.6 2.0 2.8 6.3 16.1 .393 3.0 8.8 .342 3.7 4.1 .898
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 5 34.8 18.0 0.8 3.2 4.0 3.2 3.0 2.0 2.2 1.4 7.4 15.6 .474 1.0 2.0 .500 2.2 3.4 .647
Fred VanVleet DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Ron Harper Fred VanVleet
Season 1993-942023-24
Team Los Angeles ClippersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 75 38.1 20.1 1.7 4.4 6.1 4.6 1.9 0.7 3.2 2.2 7.6 17.8 .426 0.9 3.1 .301 4.0 5.6 .715
difference:+2+1.3+2.7+1.2+1.0+2.3+3.5+0.5+0.1-1.5-0.3+1.8+3.9+.010+2.2+4.9+.086+1.3+2.5+.145
Fred VanVleet 73 36.8 17.4 0.5 3.4 3.8 8.1 1.4 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.8 13.9 .416 3.1 8.0 .387 2.7 3.1 .860
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Ron Harper nor Fred VanVleet played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9

Ron Harper Fred VanVleet
Season 1994-952024-25
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 77 19.9 6.9 0.7 1.7 2.3 2.0 1.3 0.4 1.3 1.7 2.7 6.4 .426 0.4 1.4 .282 1.1 1.7 .618
difference:+17+15.3+7.2+0.2+1.5+1.4+3.6+0.3-0.2-0.6+2.1+6.3+.048+2.3+6.3+.063+0.8+0.6+.192
Fred VanVleet 60 35.2 14.1 0.5 3.2 3.7 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.5 2.3 4.8 12.7 .378 2.7 7.7 .345 1.9 2.3 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 6 6.7 2.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 0.7 0.5 0.2 0.2 1.0 1.0 2.3 .429 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+1+33.3+16.7+0.1+3.0+3.1+3.7+0.5+0.1-1.7-1.3+4.7+11.0+.001+3.9+8.6+.435+3.4+3.4
Fred VanVleet 7 40.0 18.7 0.4 3.7 4.1 4.4 1.0 0.3 1.9 2.3 5.7 13.3 .430 3.9 8.9 .435 3.4 3.4 1.000

Additional Years

* Ron Harper played 6 seasons more than Fred VanVleet in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 15, from 1996 to 2001—Ron Harper played in 5 Playoffs and won 5 NBA Championships.