Matt Harpring
Encyclopedia
Matthew Joseph Harpring (born May 31, 1976) is an American former professional basketball player who played 12 seasons in the NBA. He is currently the color commentator for the Utah Jazz.

College career

After attending Marist School
Marist School (Georgia)
Marist School is an independent private Roman Catholic college preparatory school located in the Brookhaven area of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, north of the city of Atlanta...

 near Atlanta, Harpring played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....

 at Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...

, where he was a four-year starter. He was named First Team All-ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...

 three times (the only other Yellow Jacket player to accomplish this feat was Mark Price
Mark Price
William Mark Price is a retired American basketball player who played for 12 seasons in the NBA, from 1986 to 1998...

 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 Team All-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 the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team
ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team
In 2002 the Atlantic Coast Conference selected 50th anniversary teams for most of its sports. The 50-member men's basketball team was voted on by a 120-member blue-ribbon committee that was selected by the league's 50th Anniversary Committee....

 as one of the fifty greatest players in Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...

 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.

Early professional career

The Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...

 selected Harpring with the 15th pick in the first round of the 1998 NBA Draft
1998 NBA Draft
The 1998 NBA Draft took place on June 24, 1998 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This draft helped turn around three struggling franchises: the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings, and the Toronto Raptors....

. 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 the 1998-99
1998-99 NBA season
The 1999 NBA season was the 53rd season of the National Basketball Association . Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999 after a new six year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association...

 NBA 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 the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

 for center Andrew DeClercq
Andrew DeClercq
Andrew Donald DeClercq is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a center and power forward in the National Basketball Association for ten seasons in the 1990s and 2000s...

. 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 against Charlotte on March 16, 2001.

In August 2001, the Cavs traded Harpring to the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...

 along with Cedric Henderson
Cedric Henderson
Cedric Earl Henderson is an American basketball player who played 5 seasons in the NBA.A 6'7" small forward, Henderson starred at the University of Memphis, and was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft...

 and Robert Traylor
Robert Traylor
Robert DeShaun "Tractor" Traylor was an American professional basketball player.-High school and college:...

 in exchange for Tyrone Hill
Tyrone Hill
Tyrone Hill is a retired American basketball player and, since 2008–09, assistant coach for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. Hill spent four years playing collegiately at Xavier University, in his last season averaging 20.2 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 58.1% from the field...

 and Jumaine Jones
Jumaine Jones
Jumaine Lanard Jones is an American professional basketball forward. An NBA player from 1999 to 2007 drafted from the University of Georgia, he has played in the small forward and power forward positions...

. 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.

Utah Jazz

Harpring signed a free agent contract with the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 in August 2002. Known as a smart, hard-working player, he fit well in Utah’s offensive system, playing alongside superstars Karl Malone
Karl Malone
Karl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...

 and John Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...

. 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 the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...

 on November 26, 2002. Three nights later, he set another career high with 33 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...

 (on November 29, 2002). He finished second in voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player
NBA Most Improved Player Award
The National Basketball Association's Most Improved Player Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1985–86 NBA season, to the most improved player of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States and Canada,...

 in 2002-03
2002-03 NBA season
The 2002–03 NBA season was the 57th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs beating the New Jersey Nets 4-2 in the 2003 NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...

 (behind Golden State
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

's Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Jay Arenas, Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association . He plays as a point guard and shooting guard....

).

Prior to the 2003-04 season, Stockton announced his retirement and Malone left Utah to play for the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

. Harpring was named team captain by coach Jerry Sloan
Jerry Sloan
Gerald Eugene "Jerry" Sloan , is an American former National Basketball Association player and head coach, and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. NBA commissioner David Stern called Sloan "one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history." Sloan had a career regular-season...

. 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 as Andrei Kirilenko
Andrei Kirilenko (basketball)
Andrei Gennadyevich Kirilenko is a Russian-American professional basketball player who plays at the small forward position for the CSKA Moscow in the Russian Professional Basketball League. He also plays for the Russia national basketball team...

 emerged as an All-Star at small forward, and the Jazz added power forwards Carlos Boozer
Carlos Boozer
Carlos Austin Boozer, Jr. is an American professional basketball player with the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association...

 and Mehmet Okur
Mehmet Okur
Mehmet Murat Okur is a Turkish professional basketball player who currently plays for Türk Telekom B.K.. He is also under contract with the Utah Jazz of the NBA, and can return to that team when the 2011 NBA lockout ends...

 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. He joined the Jazz television broadcast team for a few games to add color commentary.

Oklahoma City Thunder

On December 22, 2009, Harpring's contract was included in a trade between the Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....

, sending Harpring and point guard Eric Maynor
Eric Maynor
Eric Demarqua Maynor is an American professional basketball player at point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA. He played college basketball for the VCU Rams...

 to the Thunder in exchange for the rights to 2002 draft pick Peter Fehse
Peter Fehse
Peter Fehse is a German professional basketball player who is currently coaching for BG Bitterfeld-Sandersdorf-Wolfen in German third league assisting former German national player Stephen Arigbabu...

. Harpring did not report to Oklahoma City, who waived him on February 22, 2010. He then joined NBA TV
NBA TV
NBA TV is a television specialty channel that is dedicated to showcasing the sport of basketball in the United States. The network is financially backed by the National Basketball Association , which also uses NBA TV as a way of advertising their out of market package NBA League Pass, and partner...

 as a studio analyst.

Regular season

|-
| align="left" | 1998–99
| align="left" | Orlando
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...


| 50 || 22 || 22.3 || .463 || .400 || .713 || 4.3 || .9 || .6 || .1 || 8.2
|-
| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Orlando
| 4 || 0 || 15.8 || .235 || 1.000 || .857 || 3.0 || 2.0 || 1.2 || .2 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...


| 56 || 55 || 28.8 || .454 || .250 || .812 || 4.3 || 1.8 || .8 || .3 || 11.1
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | Philadelphia
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...


| 81 || 81 || 31.4 || .461 || .304 || .743 || 7.1 || 1.3 || .9 || .1 || 11.8
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | Utah
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...


| 78 || 69 || 32.8 || .511 || .413 || .792 || 6.6 || 1.7 || .9 || .2 || 17.6
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | Utah
| 31 || 31 || 36.6 || .471 || .242 || .688 || 8.0 || 2.0 || .7 || .1 || 16.2
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Utah
| 78 || 55 || 33.1 || .489 || .209 || .778 || 6.2 || 1.8 || .9 || .2 || 14.0
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Utah
| 71 || 32 || 27.4 || .475 || .359 || .725 || 5.2 || 1.4 || .8 || .2 || 12.5
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Utah
| 77 || 2 || 25.5 || .491 || .333 || .767 || 4.6 || 1.3 || .7 || .1 || 11.6
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Utah
| 76 || 0 || 18.1 || .500 || .200 || .712 || 3.2 || 1.1 || .6 || .2 || 8.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...


| align="left" | Utah
| 63 || 2 || 11.0 || .461 || .000 || .764 || 2.0 || .4 || .5 || .1 || 4.4
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 665 || 349 || 26.4 || .481 || .333 || .753 || 5.1 || 1.4 || .8 || .1 || 11.5

Playoffs

|-
| align="left" | 1998–99
1999 NBA Playoffs
The 1999 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1998-99 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs by defeating the eighth-seeded Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks four games to one...


| align="left" | Orlando
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...


| 4 || 0 || 20.5 || .462 || .200 || .727 || 5.0 || 1.8 || .2 || .0 || 8.3
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
2002 NBA Playoffs
The 2002 NBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2001–02 season. This would be the final postseason that held a best-of-5 first-round series; next year's postseason would see those series expanded to a best-of-7 format...


| align="left" | Philadelphia
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...


| 5 || 5 || 23.8 || .500 || .000 || .778 || 5.2 || 1.4 || 1.0 || .0 || 10.2
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
2003 NBA Playoffs
The 2003 NBA playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2002-03 NBA season. This postseason was notable for being the first time all series were conducted in a best-of-7 format. It was also the only time in playoff history that no team was swept in a first-round series....


| align="left" | Utah
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...


| 5 || 5 || 31.2 || .484 || .143 || .813 || 5.4 || 1.0 || 1.0 || .2 || 14.8
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
2007 NBA Playoffs
The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in...


| align="left" | Utah
| 17 || 0 || 25.5 || .456 || .000 || .723 || 4.8 || 1.4 || .4 || .2 || 9.3
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....


| align="left" | Utah
| 12 || 0 || 17.4 || .397 || .333 || .800 || 2.8 || .7 || .6 || .3 || 6.6
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...


| align="left" | Utah
| 5 || 0 || 9.8 || .500 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.8 || .8 || .4 || .2 || 4.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 48 || 10 || 21.8 || .459 || .150 || .767 || 4.1 || 1.1 || .6 || .2 || 8.7

Career highs

  • Points - 33 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
    Minnesota Timberwolves
    The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...

    , November 29, 2002
  • Rebounds - 19 vs. Orlando Magic
    Orlando Magic
    The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...

    , November 17, 2003
  • Assists - 7 vs. Charlotte Hornets, March 16, 2001
  • Steals - 4 on 6 occasions
  • Blocks - 3 on 2 occasions
  • Minutes - 49 vs. Sacramento Kings
    Sacramento Kings
    The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...

    , November 1, 2000

Personal life

Harpring and his wife Amanda have two children: son Luke Matthew and daughter Kate Eileen (b. January 2008).

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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