Ron Harper vs. John Havlicek Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of John Havlicek 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, 1 less than John Havlicek, who played 16. Ron Harper had the first of his seasons in 1986-87, while John Havlicek had his rookie season in 1962-63. 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
John Havlicek 16 13 1962-63 to 1977-78

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1986-871962-63
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+2+9.9+8.6+1.9+2.6-0.6+3.0+6.1+.010+2.5+3.9+.044
John Havlicek 80 27.5 14.3 - - 6.7 2.2 - - - 2.4 6.0 13.6 .445 - - - 2.2 3.0 .728
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper DNP------ --- ----------
John Havlicek 11 23.1 11.8 - - 4.8 1.5 - - - 2.5 5.1 11.4 .448 - - - 1.6 2.5 .667

Season 2

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1987-881963-64
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+23+0.2+4.5+1.5+1.9+2.0+6.4+.047+0.5+0.4+.041
John Havlicek 80 32.3 19.9 - - 5.4 3.0 - - - 2.8 8.0 19.2 .417 - - - 3.9 5.3 .746
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:+6+4.6+2.1+0.7+0.6-0.3+1.4+0.1+.092+0.7+0.4+.107
John Havlicek 10 28.9 15.7 - - 4.3 3.2 - - - 2.6 6.1 15.9 .384 - - - 3.5 4.4 .795

Season 3

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1988-891964-65
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
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:+7+5.9+0.3+0.1+2.6+0.4+4.9+.110+0.8+1.0+.007
John Havlicek 75 28.9 18.3 - - 4.9 2.7 - - - 2.7 7.6 18.9 .401 - - - 3.1 4.2 .744
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:+7+4.0+1.1+3.1+1.6-0.3+0.5+7.0+.213+0.2+0.6+.067
John Havlicek 12 33.8 18.5 - - 7.3 2.4 - - - 3.7 7.3 20.8 .352 - - - 3.8 4.6 .836

Season 4

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1989-901965-66
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+36+8.5+4.0+0.1+2.2-0.8+1.1+0.5+.074+1.3+1.7+.003
John Havlicek 71 30.6 18.8 - - 6.0 3.0 - - - 2.2 7.5 18.7 .399 - - - 3.9 4.9 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper DNP------ --- ----------
John Havlicek 17 42.3 23.6 - - 9.1 4.1 - - - 4.1 9.0 22.0 .409 - - - 5.6 6.6 .841

Season 5

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1990-911966-67
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Div Finals
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:+42+3.4+1.8+1.8+2.0-0.2+1.1+0.3+.053+0.8+0.2+.160
John Havlicek 81 32.1 21.4 - - 6.6 3.4 - - - 2.6 8.4 19.0 .444 - - - 4.5 5.4 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper DNP------ --- ----------
John Havlicek 9 36.7 27.4 - - 8.1 3.1 - - - 3.3 10.6 23.6 .448 - - - 6.3 7.9 .803

Season 6

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1991-921967-68
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+2.7+2.5+1.2+0.4-0.5+1.2+3.1+.011+0.9+0.6+.076
John Havlicek 82 35.6 20.7 - - 6.7 4.7 - - - 2.9 8.1 18.9 .429 - - - 4.5 5.5 .812
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:+14+4.2+7.9+2.2+2.9-0.9+1.9+4.0+.004+4.4+5.1+.042
John Havlicek 19 45.4 25.9 - - 8.6 7.5 - - - 3.5 9.7 21.4 .452 - - - 6.6 7.9 .828

Season 7

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1992-931968-69
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+2+1.6+3.6+1.7+0.9-0.3+1.6+5.8+.046+0.9+1.0+.011
John Havlicek 82 38.7 21.6 - - 7.0 5.4 - - - 3.0 8.4 20.8 .405 - - - 4.7 6.0 .780
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
difference:+13+12.4+7.4+5.9+2.4-1.8+2.0+5.6+.029+4.4+4.3+.208
John Havlicek 18 47.2 25.4 - - 9.9 5.6 - - - 3.2 9.4 21.2 .445 - - - 6.6 7.7 .855

Season 8

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1993-941969-70
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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:+6+3.5+4.1+1.7+2.2-0.4+1.5+1.8+.038+2.0+1.5+.129
John Havlicek 81 41.6 24.2 - - 7.8 6.8 - - - 2.6 9.1 19.6 .464 - - - 6.0 7.1 .844
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Ron Harper nor John Havlicek played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1994-951970-71
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
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:+4+25.5+22.0+6.7+5.5-0.8+8.3+18.1+.024+5.7+6.7+.200
John Havlicek 81 45.4 28.9 - - 9.0 7.5 - - - 2.5 11.0 24.5 .450 - - - 6.8 8.4 .818
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 -
John Havlicek DNP------ --- ----------

Season 10

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1995-961971-72
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
10th 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 23.6 7.4 0.9 1.7 2.7 2.6 1.3 0.4 0.9 1.7 2.9 6.3 .467 0.4 1.3 .269 1.2 1.7 .705
difference:+2+21.5+20.1+5.5+4.9-0.5+8.0+17.6+.009+4.4+5.0+.129
John Havlicek 82 45.1 27.5 - - 8.2 7.5 - - - 2.2 10.9 23.9 .458 - - - 5.6 6.7 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 18 27.4 8.8 1.4 2.3 3.7 2.5 1.4 0.4 1.0 2.1 3.2 7.4 .425 0.8 2.6 .319 1.6 2.3 .690
difference:+7+19.6+18.6+4.7+3.9-1.1+6.6+14.0+.035+6.1+6.7+.169
John Havlicek 11 47.0 27.4 - - 8.4 6.4 - - - 3.2 9.8 21.4 .460 - - - 7.7 9.0 .859

Season 11

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1996-971972-73
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 76 22.9 6.3 0.6 1.9 2.5 2.5 1.1 0.5 0.7 1.8 2.3 5.3 .436 0.9 2.5 .362 0.8 1.1 .707
difference:+4+19.2+17.5+4.6+4.1-0.6+7.3+16.0+.014+3.8+4.3+.151
John Havlicek 80 42.1 23.8 - - 7.1 6.6 - - - 2.4 9.6 21.3 .450 - - - 4.6 5.4 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 19 27.1 7.5 1.1 3.2 4.3 3.0 1.3 0.7 0.6 2.3 2.6 6.6 .400 1.1 3.2 .344 1.1 1.5 .750
difference:+7+12.8+16.3+0.9+2.4-0.3+6.7+13.0+.077+4.0+4.7+.074
John Havlicek 12 39.9 23.8 - - 5.2 5.4 - - - 2.0 9.3 19.6 .477 - - - 5.1 6.2 .824

Season 12

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1997-981973-74
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
12th 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 27.9 9.3 1.3 2.2 3.5 2.9 1.3 0.6 1.1 2.2 3.6 8.1 .441 0.2 1.0 .190 2.0 2.6 .750
difference:+6+12.8+13.3+0.5+2.4+2.9+3.0+0.2-0.4+5.4+11.7+.015+2.6+2.9+.082
John Havlicek 76 40.7 22.6 1.8 4.6 6.4 5.9 1.3 0.4 - 2.6 9.0 19.8 .456 - - - 4.6 5.5 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 21 26.9 6.7 1.0 2.6 3.7 2.3 1.0 0.9 0.9 2.0 2.7 5.8 .459 0.2 0.9 .263 1.1 1.9 .615
difference:+3+18.2+20.4+0.6+2.3+2.7+3.7+0.3+0.6-0.4+8.4+17.0+.025+3.8+3.7+.266
John Havlicek 18 45.1 27.1 1.6 4.9 6.4 6.0 1.3 0.3 - 2.4 11.1 22.8 .484 - - - 4.9 5.6 .881

Season 13

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1998-991974-75
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
13th 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 31.6 11.2 1.4 3.7 5.1 3.3 1.7 1.0 1.9 2.3 4.2 11.1 .377 0.8 2.4 .318 2.0 2.9 .703
difference:+47+6.6+8.0+0.5+0.3+0.8+2.0+0.4+0.8-0.5+3.6+6.1+.078+1.5+1.1+.167
John Havlicek 82 38.2 19.2 1.9 4.0 5.9 5.3 1.3 0.2 - 2.8 7.8 17.2 .455 - - - 3.5 4.0 .870
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper DNP------ --- ----------
John Havlicek 11 42.2 21.1 1.6 3.5 5.2 4.6 1.5 0.1 - 3.5 7.5 17.5 .432 - - - 6.0 6.9 .868

Season 14

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 1999-001975-76
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
14th 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 25.5 7.0 1.2 3.0 4.2 3.4 1.1 0.5 1.7 2.1 2.7 6.6 .399 0.4 1.3 .311 1.3 1.8 .680
difference:+4+8.7+10.0+0.3+0.4+0.1+0.3+0.2+0.1-0.6+3.9+8.2+.051+2.4+2.6+.164
John Havlicek 76 34.2 17.0 1.5 2.6 4.1 3.7 1.3 0.4 - 2.7 6.6 14.8 .450 - - - 3.7 4.4 .844
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 23 27.9 8.6 1.3 2.4 3.7 3.2 1.0 0.6 1.2 2.7 3.4 7.9 .431 0.4 1.7 .231 1.4 2.0 .702
difference:+8+5.8+4.6+0.1+0.1+0.2+0.2+0.3-0.6+1.9+4.1+.013+1.1+1.1+.107
John Havlicek 15 33.7 13.2 1.2 2.5 3.7 3.4 0.8 0.3 - 2.1 5.3 12.0 .444 - - - 2.5 3.1 .809

Season 15

Ron Harper John Havlicek
Season 2000-011976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
15th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 47 24.2 6.5 1.0 2.6 3.5 2.4 0.8 0.5 1.3 1.5 2.7 5.8 .469 0.4 1.5 .264 0.7 1.0 .708
difference:+32+12.7+11.2+0.4+0.9+1.3+2.7+0.3+0.3-1.1+4.6+10.4+.017+2.3+2.6+.108
John Havlicek 79 36.9 17.7 1.4 3.5 4.8 5.1 1.1 0.2 - 2.6 7.3 16.2 .452 - - - 3.0 3.6 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper 6 7.3 2.2 0.2 1.2 1.3 0.7 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.7 0.8 1.7 .500 0.2 0.7 .250 0.3 0.5 .667
difference:+3+34.4+16.1+1.5+2.6+4.1+6.2+0.2+0.2-3.0+6.1+16.9+.129+4.3+5.1+.153
John Havlicek 9 41.7 18.3 1.7 3.8 5.4 6.9 0.9 0.4 - 3.7 6.9 18.6 .371 - - - 4.6 5.6 .820

Additional Years

* John Havlicek played 1 season more than Ron Harper in the NBA.

In that period—his season 16 in 1978—John Havlicek didn't play in the postseason.

In that extra year over Ron Harper, John Havlicek got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-Star Game