Ron Harper vs. Kevin Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin Johnson 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 Rankings / Games against each other

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, 3 more than Kevin Johnson, who played 12. Ron Harper had the first of his seasons in 1986-87, while Kevin Johnson had his rookie season in 1987-88. 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
Kevin Johnson 12 11 1987-88 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Ron Harper Kevin Johnson
Season 1986-871987-88
Team Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
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+13.4+13.7+1.6+0.8+2.4+0.7+1.2+0.7-2.4-1.1+5.6+12.2+.006+0.1+0.8+.005+2.5+4.3+.155
Kevin Johnson 80 24.0 9.2 0.5 1.9 2.4 5.5 1.3 0.3 1.8 1.9 3.4 7.5 .461 0.1 0.3 .208 2.2 2.6 .839
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Ron Harper nor Kevin Johnson played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Ron Harper Kevin Johnson
Season 1987-881988-89
Team Cleveland CavaliersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Most Improved Player
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdSuns Lost West Conf Finals
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:+24+7.1+5.0+0.5+0.8+0.3+7.3+0.4+0.6-1.2+1.0+1.1+.041+0.1+0.1+.059+2.9+2.2+.177
Kevin Johnson 81 39.2 20.4 0.6 3.6 4.2 12.2 1.7 0.3 4.0 2.8 7.0 13.9 .505 0.0 0.3 .091 6.3 7.1 .882
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:+8+7.7+6.0+0.7+0.7+8.5+1.2+0.6-1.8+0.6+.019+0.3+0.3+.300+5.7+5.2+.239
Kevin Johnson 12 41.2 23.8 1.0 3.3 4.3 12.3 1.6 0.4 4.6 2.3 7.5 15.2 .495 0.3 0.8 .300 8.5 9.2 .927

Season 3

Ron Harper Kevin Johnson
Season 1988-891989-90
Team Cleveland CavaliersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdSuns Lost West Conf Finals
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:+8+2.8+3.9+0.9+0.4+1.4+6.1+1.0+0.7-0.8-0.8+0.6+1.7+.012+0.3+0.8+.055+2.9+2.9+.087
Kevin Johnson 74 37.6 22.5 0.6 3.1 3.6 11.4 1.3 0.2 3.6 1.9 7.8 15.7 .499 0.1 0.6 .195 6.8 8.1 .838
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:+11+1.4+1.7+0.8+0.9+6.6+0.6+0.8-2.5-2.2+0.1+2.3+.086+0.1+0.3+.182+1.8+1.8+.052
Kevin Johnson 16 36.4 21.3 0.6 2.8 3.3 10.6 1.6 0.0 3.9 1.8 7.7 16.1 .479 0.1 0.7 .182 5.8 7.0 .821

Season 4

Ron Harper Kevin Johnson
Season 1989-901990-91
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles ClippersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+42+3.1+0.6+1.4+1.0+2.4+4.9+0.2+1.1-0.6-0.7+0.9+3.3+.043+0.3+0.9+.070+1.5+1.4+.055
Kevin Johnson 77 36.0 22.2 0.7 2.8 3.5 10.1 2.1 0.1 3.5 2.3 7.7 14.9 .516 0.1 0.6 .205 6.7 8.0 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper DNP------ --- ----------
Kevin Johnson 4 36.5 12.8 0.5 2.8 3.3 9.8 0.5 0.3 3.0 2.3 4.0 13.3 .302 0.3 1.8 .143 4.5 7.5 .600

Season 5

Ron Harper Kevin Johnson
Season 1990-911991-92
Team Los Angeles ClippersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost West Conf Semis
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:+39+1.7+0.1+0.7+0.3+1.1+5.3+0.2+0.6-0.2-0.5+0.4+4.3+.088+1.1+3.2+.107+2.0+1.5+.139
Kevin Johnson 78 37.2 19.7 0.8 3.0 3.7 10.7 1.5 0.3 3.5 2.3 6.9 14.4 .479 0.1 0.6 .217 5.7 7.1 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper DNP------ --- ----------
Kevin Johnson 8 41.9 23.6 1.0 3.1 4.1 11.6 1.5 0.3 3.1 3.0 7.8 16.0 .484 0.4 0.8 .500 7.8 9.0 .861

Season 6

Ron Harper Kevin Johnson
Season 1991-921992-93
Team Los Angeles ClippersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdSuns Lost NBA Finals
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:+33+4.8+2.1+0.9+2.5+3.4+2.7+0.2+0.5-0.4+1.1+4.3+.059+0.8+2.4+.178+1.0+0.7+.083
Kevin Johnson 49 33.5 16.1 0.6 1.5 2.1 7.8 1.7 0.4 3.1 2.0 5.8 11.5 .499 0.0 0.2 .125 4.6 5.6 .819
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:+18+1.5+0.2+1.6+2.1+3.7+3.3+0.5+0.2-0.7-0.1+1.6+4.4+.032+0.2+1.7+.111+3.2+4.0+.009
Kevin Johnson 23 39.7 17.8 0.4 2.3 2.7 7.9 1.5 0.6 3.7 2.5 6.2 13.0 .480 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 6.8 .795

Season 7

Ron Harper Kevin Johnson
Season 1992-931993-94
Team Los Angeles ClippersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdSuns Lost West Conf Semis
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:+13+0.5+2.0+0.7+2.2+2.8+5.0+0.3+0.8-0.7-0.8+0.3+0.4+.036+0.6+1.9+.058+1.9+1.9+.050
Kevin Johnson 67 36.6 20.0 0.8 1.7 2.5 9.5 1.9 0.1 3.5 1.9 7.1 14.6 .487 0.1 0.4 .222 5.7 6.9 .819
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:+5+7.9+8.6+0.2+0.7+0.5+6.4+2.0+1.9-1.2-0.9+2.3+5.6+.016+0.7+1.0+.200+4.7+4.7+.205
Kevin Johnson 10 42.7 26.6 1.0 2.5 3.5 9.6 1.0 0.1 3.4 2.3 9.7 21.2 .458 0.3 1.0 .300 6.9 8.1 .852

Season 8

Ron Harper Kevin Johnson
Season 1993-941994-95
Team Los Angeles ClippersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost West Conf Semis
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:+28+9.3+4.6+1.0+2.6+3.7+3.1+0.9+0.3-1.0-0.3+2.4+6.7+.044+0.8+2.5+.147+1.0+0.5+.095
Kevin Johnson 47 28.8 15.5 0.7 1.8 2.4 7.7 1.0 0.4 2.2 1.9 5.2 11.1 .470 0.1 0.6 .154 5.0 6.1 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ron Harper DNP------ --- ----------
Kevin Johnson 10 37.1 24.8 0.7 3.4 4.1 9.3 0.9 0.4 3.4 2.5 8.6 15.0 .573 0.5 1.0 .500 7.1 8.4 .845

Season 9

Ron Harper Kevin Johnson
Season 1994-951995-96
Team Chicago BullsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisSuns 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:+21+15.9+11.8+0.1+1.5+1.6+7.2+0.2+0.2-1.7-0.9+3.4+5.6+.081+0.4+.086+5.0+5.4+.241
Kevin Johnson 56 35.8 18.7 0.8 3.2 3.9 9.2 1.5 0.2 3.0 2.6 6.1 12.0 .507 0.4 1.0 .368 6.1 7.1 .859
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:+2+31.1+15.3+0.2+3.1+3.3+10.1+0.3-2.6-1.0+5.8+12.0+.045+0.3+0.7+.250+3.5+4.3
Kevin Johnson 4 37.8 17.3 0.5 3.8 4.3 10.8 0.5 0.5 2.8 2.0 6.8 14.3 .474 0.3 1.0 .250 3.5 4.3 .824

Season 10

Ron Harper Kevin Johnson
Season 1995-961996-97
Team Chicago BullsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+10+14.4+12.7+0.1+1.1+0.9+6.7+0.2+0.2-2.2-0.3+3.4+6.4+.029+0.9+1.6+.172+5.1+5.7+.147
Kevin Johnson 70 38.0 20.1 0.8 2.8 3.6 9.3 1.5 0.2 3.1 2.0 6.3 12.7 .496 1.3 2.9 .441 6.3 7.4 .852
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:+13+14.2+8.0+0.2+0.5+0.7+3.5+1.2+0.4-2.6-0.9+2.0+10.2+.130+0.2+1.8+.183+4.2+4.3+.189
Kevin Johnson 5 41.6 16.8 1.6 2.8 4.4 6.0 2.6 0.0 3.6 3.0 5.2 17.6 .295 0.6 4.4 .136 5.8 6.6 .879

Season 11

Ron Harper Kevin Johnson
Season 1996-971997-98
Team Chicago BullsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+26+2.9+3.2+0.1+0.7+0.8+2.4+0.6+0.3-1.3-0.7+0.8+1.6+.011+0.8+2.0+.208+2.4+2.6+.164
Kevin Johnson 50 25.8 9.5 0.7 2.6 3.3 4.9 0.5 0.2 2.0 1.1 3.1 6.9 .447 0.1 0.5 .154 3.2 3.7 .871
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:+15+3.4+6.3+0.6+1.4+2.0+1.8+0.8+0.4-0.9-0.8+3.2+3.9+.148+0.8+2.2+.094+0.9+1.5+.083
Kevin Johnson 4 30.5 13.8 0.5 1.8 2.3 4.8 0.5 0.3 1.5 1.5 5.8 10.5 .548 0.3 1.0 .250 2.0 3.0 .667

Note: Kevin Johnson didn't play in 1998-99.

Season 12

Ron Harper Kevin Johnson
Season 1997-981999-00
Team Chicago BullsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns Lost West Conf Semis
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:+76+9.1+2.6+1.3+0.5+0.8+1.1+1.0+0.6-0.1-1.2+0.9+3.4+.130+0.8+.810+0.8+1.4+.250
Kevin Johnson 6 18.8 6.7 0.0 2.7 2.7 4.0 0.3 0.0 1.2 1.0 2.7 4.7 .571 0.2 0.2 1.000 1.2 1.2 1.000
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:+12+12.6+3.5+1.0+1.2+2.3+0.3+0.7+0.8-0.5-0.9+1.4+1.7+.135+0.2+0.6+.263+0.5+1.2+.218
Kevin Johnson 9 14.3 3.2 0.0 1.4 1.4 2.6 0.3 0.1 1.4 1.1 1.3 4.1 .324 0.0 0.3 .000 0.6 0.7 .833

Additional Years

* Ron Harper played 3 seasons more than Kevin Johnson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 15, from 1999 to 2001—Ron Harper played in two Playoffs and won two NBA Championships.