 Harpring in 2009 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1976-05-31)May 31, 1976 (age 49) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Marist School (Atlanta, Georgia) |
| College | Georgia Tech (1994–1998) |
| NBA draft | 1998: 1st round, 15th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Orlando Magic |
| Playing career | 1998–2009 |
| Position | Small forward /shooting guard |
| Number | 15, 21 |
| Career history | |
| 1998–2000 | Orlando Magic |
| 2000–2001 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2001–2002 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2002–2009 | Utah Jazz |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 7,645 (11.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,366 (5.1 rpg) |
| Assists | 907 (1.4 apg) |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Matthew Joseph Harpring (born May 31, 1976) is an American former professionalbasketball player who played 11 seasons in theNational Basketball Association (NBA) and was formerly paired with play-by-play broadcasterCraig Bolerjack as thecolor analyst in broadcasting games for theUtah Jazz.
After attendingMarist School near Atlanta, Harpring playedcollege basketball atGeorgia Tech, where he was a four-year starter. He was named First TeamAll-ACC three times (the only other Yellow Jacket player to accomplish this feat wasMark Price from 1984 to 1986). In his senior season (1997–98), Harpring set career-highs by averaging 21.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, ranking second in the ACC in both categories. For his efforts, he was named Third TeamAll-American.
He finished his collegiate career as Georgia Tech's second all-time leader in points (2,225) and rebounds (997). He is the institute's all-time leader in free throws attempted (675) and made (508). Prior to his final regular season home game, Georgia Tech retired Harpring's jersey number 15. In 2002, Harpring was selected to theACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team as one of the fifty greatest players inAtlantic Coast Conference history.
While he excelled on the court, he was equally impressive in the classroom. Harpring earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Georgia Tech, and was named GTE Academic All-District III three times. As a senior, he was an Academic All-American.[citation needed]
TheOrlando Magic selected Harpring with the 15th pick in the first round of the1998 NBA draft. In his rookie season, he averaged 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He started 22 of 50 games, averaging 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds as a starter. He was named to the1998–99NBA All-Rookie First Team.
In his second year with the Magic, Harpring played in just four games. An injury to his left ankle sidelined him for most of the season. In August 2000, he was traded to theCleveland Cavaliers for centerAndrew DeClercq. He played just one season with the Cavs, averaging 11.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 56 games. He scored a career-high 28 points againstCharlotte on March 16, 2001.
In August 2001, the Cavs traded Harpring to thePhiladelphia 76ers along withCedric Henderson andRobert Traylor in exchange forTyrone Hill andJumaine Jones.[1] Harpring played in 81 games for the Sixers during the 2001–02 season. He set career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. For the year, he averaged 11.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He scored 20 or more points in five different games.
Harpring signed a free agent contract with theUtah Jazz in August 2002. Known as a smart, hard-working player, he fit well in Utah's offensive system, playing alongside superstarsKarl Malone andJohn Stockton. Harpring played the best basketball of his career, averaging 17.6 points per game while shooting 51.1 percent from the floor and 41.3 percent on three-pointers. He set a new career high with 30 points against theLos Angeles Clippers on November 26, 2002. Three nights later, he set another career high with 33 points against theMinnesota Timberwolves (on November 29, 2002). He finished second in voting for theNBA's Most Improved Player in2002–03 (behindGolden State'sGilbert Arenas).
Prior to the 2003–04 season, Stockton announced his retirement and Malone left Utah to play for theLos Angeles Lakers. Harpring was named team captain by coachJerry Sloan. Harpring provided leadership for the young team, which played surprisingly well despite the departures of Malone and Stockton. Harpring's season ended suddenly with a knee injury that required surgery to repair. In 31 games, he averaged 16.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. At the time of his injury, he was Utah's leading scorer.
Harpring returned from his injury the following season, but saw his role on the team reduced asAndrei Kirilenko emerged as anAll-Star at small forward, and the Jazz added power forwardsCarlos Boozer andMehmet Okur to the roster.
In 2009, after suffering various injuries and a post-surgery infection in his ankle, Harpring announced that he would probably not be able to continue playing in the NBA, though he did not formally retire.[2] He joined the Jazz television broadcast team for a few games to add color commentary.
Since 2010, Harpring has successfully transitioned to his current role as color commentary voice for the games broadcast onAT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain,[3] adding a dry sense of humor which he admits he suppressed while a player to the widely recognized play-by-play skills of Craig Bolerjack.[4]
On December 22, 2009, Harpring's contract was included in a trade between the Jazz andOklahoma City Thunder, sending Harpring and point guardEric Maynor to the Thunder in exchange for the rights to 2002 draft pickPeter Fehse. Harpring did not report to Oklahoma City,[5][6] who waived him on February 22, 2010.
He then joinedNBA TV as a studio analyst.[7]
Harpring was inducted into theGeorgia Sports Hall of Fame, in Macon, Georgia, as a member of the 2017 class.[8]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Orlando | 50* | 22 | 22.3 | .463 | .400 | .713 | 4.3 | .9 | .6 | .1 | 8.2 |
| 1999–00 | Orlando | 4 | 0 | 15.8 | .235 | 1.000 | .857 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.3 | .3 | 4.0 |
| 2000–01 | Cleveland | 56 | 55 | 28.8 | .454 | .250 | .812 | 4.3 | 1.8 | .8 | .3 | 11.1 |
| 2001–02 | Philadelphia | 81 | 81 | 31.4 | .461 | .304 | .743 | 7.1 | 1.3 | .9 | .1 | 11.8 |
| 2002–03 | Utah | 78 | 69 | 32.8 | .511 | .413 | .792 | 6.6 | 1.7 | .9 | .2 | 17.6 |
| 2003–04 | Utah | 31 | 31 | 36.6 | .471 | .242 | .688 | 8.0 | 2.0 | .7 | .1 | 16.2 |
| 2004–05 | Utah | 78 | 55 | 33.1 | .489 | .209 | .778 | 6.2 | 1.8 | .9 | .2 | 14.0 |
| 2005–06 | Utah | 71 | 32 | 27.4 | .475 | .359 | .725 | 5.2 | 1.4 | .8 | .2 | 12.5 |
| 2006–07 | Utah | 77 | 2 | 25.5 | .491 | .333 | .767 | 4.6 | 1.3 | .7 | .1 | 11.6 |
| 2007–08 | Utah | 76 | 0 | 18.1 | .500 | .200 | .712 | 3.2 | 1.1 | .6 | .2 | 8.2 |
| 2008–09 | Utah | 63 | 2 | 11.0 | .461 | .000 | .764 | 2.0 | .4 | .5 | .1 | 4.4 |
| Career | 665 | 349 | 26.4 | .481 | .333 | .753 | 5.1 | 1.4 | .7 | .2 | 11.5 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Orlando | 4 | 0 | 20.5 | .462 | .200 | .727 | 5.0 | 1.8 | .3 | .0 | 8.3 |
| 2002 | Philadelphia | 5 | 5 | 23.8 | .500 | .000 | .778 | 5.2 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .0 | 10.2 |
| 2003 | Utah | 5 | 5 | 31.2 | .484 | .143 | .813 | 5.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .2 | 14.8 |
| 2007 | Utah | 17 | 0 | 25.5 | .456 | .000 | .723 | 4.8 | 1.4 | .4 | .2 | 9.3 |
| 2008 | Utah | 12 | 0 | 17.4 | .397 | .333 | .800 | 2.8 | .7 | .6 | .3 | 6.6 |
| 2009 | Utah | 5 | 0 | 9.8 | .500 | .000 | 1.000 | 1.8 | .8 | .4 | .2 | 4.8 |
| Career | 48 | 10 | 21.8 | .459 | .150 | .767 | 4.1 | 1.1 | .6 | .2 | 8.7 | |
Harpring and his wife Amanda, who is a physician, have five children: the first son Luke Matthew and second daughter Kate Eileen, Robert, and Matthew. His eldest son Luke currently plays football at his alma mater Georgia Tech. Harpring mentioned on the Utah Jazz broadcast that he enjoys The Office. (Utah vs. Dallas, October 28, 2018).[9]