In his early days with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Ron Harper was one of the NBA's most exciting players, someone who could match moves and points and baskets with Michael Jordan.
A trade to the Los Angeles Clippers and knee surgery changed Harper's career, even though two years ago he still averaged 20 points.Signed as a big-bucks free agent by the Bulls last season, he had the most frustrating experience as a pro, struggling with a new system and style of play.
With Jordan playing baseball, Harper was not the answer at guard. He averaged just 6.9 points. When Jordan returned, Harper was even more confused.
Now, however, he's found a comfort zone as a defensive specialist, who can still score if needed. He had 15 points in Game 1 of the NBA Finals as Chicago beat the Seattle SuperSonics 107-90.
"Last year I didn't know my basketball role and now I do," Harper said.
Jordan saw Harper over the summer, and Harper told him he wasn't coming back to sit on the bench.
"The next thing you know he was a starting factor," Jordan said.
"Most guys who have been a star on another team, sometimes it's hard to take a back-seat role in another system and find a niche. Cleveland, to this day, would have had better success if they would have kept Ron Harper. Because that was one of the guys who gave me the toughest problems."
PAY UP: Jordan is constantly asked what will happen in the offseason since he, coach Phil Jackson and Dennis Rodman don't have contracts.
"It's management's decision, not Michael Jordan's," he said Thursday.
"To no extent do we want to seem greedy. But I think if you're very patient, good things will come to you. If you're greedy, bad things will come to you. We don't want to exploit greed. We just want what's fair."
Reports say Jordan will ask for at least $18 million a season. Jackson wants a raise from the $850,000 he's making this year.
"A lot of times, what's fair is far less than what you're deserving of. I think that's where Phil is, that's where I am. We want to play in Chicago, we want to be happy, we want that to maintain," Jordan said.
FINANCIAL AID? Answering a hypothetical question, commissioner David Stern said the NBA has no plans to reward players who have a major impact on the game - like Jordan.
He said the league provides the stage for great players to compete against great players and enhance their earning potential through contracts and endorsements.
"I don't foresee us changing that for any particular player, although I would like to represent Michael in his negotiations with Chicago," Stern said with a chuckle.
OTHER MATTERS: Stern said the Anaheim Arena is more preferable for fan comfort than the Los Angeles Sports Arena, and if the Los Angeles Clippers move there, it "will be a plus for the league."
Stern also said about four or five NBA teams are not making money. He didn't mention them by name.
"Teams in that category have changed. It's a natural correlation if you don't make the playoffs and you have a bad competitive season and you're in an old building," he said.
"Things change with teams going into new buildings. It changes the outlook dramatically."
WOMEN'S LEAGUE: A new women's professional league run by the NBA will probably start in June 1997 and run its first season through August, Stern said. There will be eight teams and they will be announced, along with a TV network deal, this summer.
YESTERDAY: The NBA will celebrate its 50th anniversary next season and, following the lead of other leagues, will dress several of its teams in uniforms featuring designs from eras gone by.
The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors will tip off the season Nov. 1, donning uniforms that reflect the past. The first game of what was then the NBA was played on that date in 1946 when the Knicks played the then Toronto Huskies.
Three days before the season opener this year, the league will announce the greatest 50 players in NBA history as selected by a panel of media, former players, former coaches, current general managers and team officials.
FAMILIAR SIGHT: When George Karl was coaching in Europe, a lanky left-handed player with great passing skills stood out immediately.
His name: Toni Kukoc.
"I thought he was the most versatile player in Europe. I loved his size. He could play outside, shoot over little guys and run," Karl said.
"Then he wanted to pass more than score. Now he developing more of a scoring mentality because that's what the Bulls need from him."
Kukoc showed that Wednesday night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals when he scored 12 fourth-quarter points against Karl's Sonics to spark the Bulls' victory.
STILL HURTING: Seattle guard Nate McMillan played only six minutes in the opener. He might not go at all tonight in Game 2.
"Unless there is a miracle, I'm out," said McMillan, who has a nerve problem in his back. He said he didn't know if he'd be able to play at all the rest of the series.