Ex-Cavs Guard Harper Knocks LeBron’s Handling Of ‘Decision’
July 20, 2010 at 6:53 PM by AHN · Leave a Comment
Cleveland, OH, United States (AHN) – Former Cavs star guard and NBA assistant coach Ron Harper reportedly sounded off on LeBron James in the way the NBA superstar handled the execution of “The Decision”, implying it was an unprofessional way to leave a team.
The 46-year-old Harper, the 8th overall pick by the Cavaliers in the 1986 Draft, was reacting to James’ messy separation with Cleveland following a one-hour TV special on July 8, announcing his decision to leave the club as a free agent.
The five-time NBA champion Harper, who finished second in Rookie of the Year balloting, understands James’ desire to win an NBA championship.
Harper says the 25-year-old player should have called team owner Dan Gilbert about the decision, however, the Morning Journal.com reported.
“He was a free agent, and (leaving) is his choice,” Harper told the Morning Journal.com. “I think the first thing I would have done if I was LeBron James was to call up the owner of the team and tell him of the choice I made.”
Harper added that the first thing he would have done if he was James was to “thank the owner and thank the fans of Cleveland.”
According to Harper, “I would have said, ‘It’s been a great seven years, but I play the game to win a championship and I think I’m choosing a team where I can do that now,’ ” the Morning Journal.com reported.
During the hour-long special aired on ESPN, James indicated that the Miami Heat had just been told of his decision, but none of the other teams vying for his services, including the Cavaliers, were informed of his decision until the announcement.
During his rookie season, Harper averaged 22.9 points per contest and was named to the 1986-87 NBA All-Rookie Team.
He spent three years in Cleveland before being traded to the Clippers early in the 1989-90 season.
Harper later landed in Chicago, where he became a key component of the Bulls perimeter defense and scoring option for Phil Jackson.
He won three of his five NBA championships with the Bulls, while the last two were with the Lakers.
Harper later worked as an assistant coach for the Pistons in 2005.
