Five-time NBA champion Ron Harper went off on ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith in light of some comments he made on President Joe Biden, who pardoned his son after federal convictions for tax evasion and firearm charges.
Smith directed some criticism at Biden over the matter. However, he didn’t seem upset over the pardoning alone. Rather, he seemed upset over the fact that the president decided to pardon his son after saying he wasn’t going to.
Stephen A. Smith goes off on President Joe Biden for pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, after repeatedly promising not to, following Hunter Biden's federal convictions for tax evasion and firearm charges.
(🎥 Stephen A Smith/YouTube) pic.twitter.com/n0RrVETwkV
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) December 3, 2024
“All you had to do was say, ‘He’s my son. I can’t let him go to jail. What’s wrong with y’all?'” Smith said.
Harper fired back at Smith on social media, asking him what he would do if he had a son in the same position.
Shut up what would you do if that was your son? He didn’t kill someone or hurt someone..
— Ron Harper (@HARPER04_5) December 3, 2024
Harper and Smith may actually have more common ground on the topic than it appears, as it doesn’t seem like Smith blames Biden for pardoning his son — just for the way he handled it.
It’s possible that Harper feels strongly about this subject since he has sons of his own. One is currently starring at Rutgers University as a basketball player, and one is currently in the G League. It seems like the former NBA player would want to make sure that his kids wouldn’t have to go to jail if he had the power to keep them out.
The No. 8 overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft, Harper began his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, playing there for over three seasons. During his fourth season with the Cavs, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers (along with some draft picks) in a deal that sent Danny Ferry and Reggie Williams back to Cleveland.
Harper ended up spending several seasons with his new team, playing for the Clippers through the 1993-94 season.
From there, Harper’s career changed. He signed with the Chicago Bulls in free agency ahead of the 1994-95 season and would be a part of Chicago’s second three-peat in the 1990s.
The Bulls won titles in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Harper played a key role for Chicago during his time there, averaging 7.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game across five seasons. He started 324 of the 350 games that he appeared in for Chicago during the regular season.
Harper’s playoff success didn’t stop in Chicago, as he eventually joined the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the 1999-00 season. Harper spent the final two seasons of his career as a Laker, winning titles alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
A terrific role player, Harper finished his NBA career averaging 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 44.6 percent from the field.
