Harper enters his first season as an assistant coach with the Pistons after retiring from the NBA as a player in 2001-02. Harper spent 16 years in the NBA as a player and was a member of four championship teams (Los Angeles Lakers in 2000 and the Chicago Bulls from 1996 to 1998). In 1,009 career games with Cleveland, the Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago and Los Angeles Lakers, he averaged 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.70 steals in 30.9 minutes per game. Harper was named NBA Player of the Week three times during his career (2/5/89, 1/6/90, 1/30/94) and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1986-87, finishing second in NBA Rookie of the Year balloting that season. He played in 106 career playoff games during his career and averaged 9.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in those games. He recorded his 1,500th career steal against the Pistons on February 15, 1998.