Last Updated on October 5, 2025 by Mat Diekhake

Derek Harper — NBA per-game statistics by season:

Year Team Age G GS MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOV FGA FG% 3PA 3P% FTA FT%
1983-84 DAL 22 82 1 20.9 5.7 2.1 2.9 1.2 0.3 1.4 5.5 .443 0.3 .115 1.2 .673
1984-85 DAL 23 82 1 27.0 9.6 2.4 4.4 1.8 0.5 1.5 7.7 .520 0.7 .344 1.9 .721
1985-86 DAL 24 79 39 27.2 12.2 2.9 5.3 1.9 0.3 1.8 9.2 .534 0.6 .235 2.9 .747
1986-87 DAL 25 77 76 33.2 16.0 2.6 7.9 2.2 0.3 1.8 12.9 .501 2.8 .358 3.0 .684
1987-88 DAL 26 82 82 37.0 17.0 3.0 7.7 2.0 0.4 2.3 14.2 .459 2.3 .313 4.2 .759
1988-89 DAL 27 81 81 36.6 17.3 2.8 7.0 2.1 0.5 2.5 13.9 .477 3.4 .356 3.5 .806
1989-90 DAL 28 82 82 36.7 18.0 3.0 7.4 2.3 0.3 2.5 14.2 .488 2.9 .371 3.8 .794
1990-91 DAL 29 77 77 37.4 19.7 3.0 7.1 1.9 0.2 2.3 15.9 .467 3.2 .362 5.1 .731
1991-92 DAL 30 65 64 34.6 17.7 2.6 5.7 1.6 0.3 2.4 15.6 .443 2.9 .312 4.0 .759
1992-93 DAL 31 62 60 34.0 18.2 2.0 5.4 1.3 0.3 2.2 15.1 .419 4.1 .393 5.1 .756
1993-94 2TM 32 82 55 26.9 9.6 1.7 4.1 1.5 0.1 1.6 9.1 .407 2.5 .360 2.0 .687
1993-94 DAL 32 28 28 31.9 11.6 2.0 3.5 1.6 0.1 1.9 12.2 .380 3.8 .352 1.8 .560
1993-94 NYK 32 54 27 24.3 8.6 1.6 4.4 1.5 0.1 1.5 7.4 .430 1.8 .367 2.1 .743
1994-95 NYK 33 80 80 34.0 11.5 2.4 5.7 1.0 0.1 1.9 9.5 .446 3.7 .363 2.4 .724
1995-96 NYK 34 82 82 35.3 14.0 2.5 4.3 1.6 0.1 2.2 11.5 .464 4.0 .372 2.5 .757
1996-97 DAL 35 75 29 29.5 10.0 1.8 4.3 1.2 0.2 1.8 9.0 .444 2.3 .341 1.7 .742
1997-98 ORL 36 66 45 26.7 8.6 1.6 3.5 1.1 0.2 1.5 8.2 .417 2.5 .360 1.2 .696
1998-99 LAL 37 45 29 24.9 6.9 1.5 4.2 1.0 0.1 1.2 6.5 .412 2.6 .368 0.7 .813
Career — — 1199 883 31.5 13.3 2.4 5.5 1.6 0.3 1.9 11.2 .463 2.5 .354 2.9 .745

Derek Harper — NBA career totals by season:

Year Team Age GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM 3PA 3PM FTA FTM
1983-84 DAL 22 82 1 1712 469 172 239 95 21 111 451 200 26 3 98 66
1984-85 DAL 23 82 1 2218 790 199 360 144 37 123 633 329 61 21 154 111
1985-86 DAL 24 79 39 2150 963 226 416 153 23 144 730 390 51 12 229 171
1986-87 DAL 25 77 76 2556 1230 199 609 167 25 138 993 497 212 76 234 160
1987-88 DAL 26 82 82 3032 1393 246 634 168 35 190 1167 536 192 60 344 261
1988-89 DAL 27 81 81 2968 1404 228 570 172 41 205 1127 538 278 99 284 229
1989-90 DAL 28 82 82 3007 1473 244 609 187 26 207 1161 567 240 89 315 250
1990-91 DAL 29 77 77 2879 1519 233 548 147 14 177 1226 572 246 89 391 286
1991-92 DAL 30 65 64 2252 1152 170 373 101 17 154 1011 448 186 58 261 198
1992-93 DAL 31 62 60 2108 1126 123 334 80 16 136 939 393 257 101 316 239
1993-94 2TM 32 82 55 2204 791 141 334 125 8 135 744 303 203 73 163 112
1993-94 DAL 32 28 28 893 325 55 98 45 4 54 342 130 105 37 50 28
1993-94 NYK 32 54 27 1311 466 86 236 80 4 81 402 173 98 36 113 84
1994-95 NYK 33 80 80 2716 919 194 458 79 10 151 756 337 292 106 192 139
1995-96 NYK 34 82 82 2893 1149 202 352 131 5 178 939 436 325 121 206 156
1996-97 DAL 35 75 29 2210 753 137 321 92 12 132 674 299 176 60 128 95
1997-98 ORL 36 66 45 1761 566 103 233 72 10 101 542 226 164 59 79 55
1998-99 LAL 37 45 29 1120 309 67 187 44 4 52 291 120 117 43 32 26
Career — — 1199 883 37786 16006 2884 6577 1957 304 2334 10358 6191 3026 1070 3426 2554

Derek Harper — NBA regular-season career per‑game evolution & impact:

Year Team Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK (SPG + BPG) Impact Index* Notes & Trends
1983-84 Dallas “Young Backup / Emerging PG” 20.9 Medium 5.7 2.1 2.9 1.5 (1.2 + 0.3) (5.7+2.1+2.9+1.5)/2 = 6.1 Rookie season, limited usage but showing glimpses defensively and playmaking 
1984-85 Dallas “Rotation Starter / Secondary Playmaker” 27.0 Medium-High 9.6 2.4 4.4 2.3 (1.8 + 0.5) (9.6+2.4+4.4+2.3)/2 = 9.35 Significant jump in assists and steals; moving toward trusted starter duty 
1985-86 Dallas “Starting Floor General / Scoring PG” 27.2 High 12.2 2.9 5.3 2.2 (1.9 + 0.3) (12.2+2.9+5.3+2.2)/2 = 11.3 His scoring, playmaking, and defensive activity all rise — clear “go” PG archetype 
1986-87 Dallas “Lead Point / Two-Way Starter” 33.2 High 16.0 2.6 7.9 2.5 (2.2 + 0.3) (16.0+2.6+7.9+2.5)/2 = 14.5 Breakout two-way season: assists explode, steals strong — real floor general role 
1987-88 Dallas “Primary PG / Two-Way Anchor” 37.0 High 17.0 3.0 7.7 2.4 (2.0 + 0.4) (17.0+3.0+7.7+2.4)/2 = 15.05 Maintains high output, solid across scoring, defense, playmaking 
1988-89 Dallas “Scoring + Facilitation PG” 36.6 High 17.3 2.8 7.0 2.6 (2.1 + 0.5) (17.3+2.8+7.0+2.6)/2 = 14.85 Slight dip in assists, but still strong in other areas 
1989-90 Dallas “Veteran Lead Guard / Efficient Producer” 36.7 High 18.0 3.0 7.4 2.6 (2.3 + 0.3) (18.0+3.0+7.4+2.6)/2 = 15.5 One of his best seasons — highest usage, efficient two-way contributions 
1990-91 Dallas “Workhorse Point / Defensive PG” 37.4 High 19.7 3.0 7.1 2.5 (1.9 + 0.6) (19.7+3.0+7.1+2.5)/2 = 16.15 Peak scoring, still solid assists and steals — heavy load 
1991-92 Dallas “Veteran First Option PG” 34.6 High 17.7 2.6 5.7 2.1 (1.6 + 0.5) (17.7+2.6+5.7+2.1)/2 = 14.05 Slight tail in usage; assists and defense begin gradual decline 
1992-93 Dallas “Lead Veteran PG / Scoring Focus” 34.0 Medium-High 18.2 2.0 5.4 1.6 (1.3 + 0.3) (18.2+2.0+5.4+1.6)/2 = 13.6 Scoring remains strong, but other peripheral stats start to slip 
1993-94 Dallas / NYK “Transition Veteran PG / Split Role” ~26.1* Medium ~9.2* ~2.0* ~5.7* ~1.8* ~9.35* In 1993-94 he split time between Dallas and New York: his usage, minutes, and stat lines are reduced and role becomes more situational 
1994-95 New York “Secondary PG / Veteran Starter” ~26.4* Medium ~7.5* ~2.2* ~4.6* ~1.8* ~7.05* Role further declines; shift to more complementary minutes 
1995-96 New York “Veteran Off-Ball / Rotation PG” ~35.5* Medium ~14.6* ~2.3* ~5.3* ~1.6* ~11.0* Slight resurgence in counting stats in a partial rebound role 
1996-97 Dallas “Veteran Backup PG / Floor Spacer” 25.7 Medium-Low 8.1 1.9 1.5 2.0 (0.1 + 1.9?) (8.1+1.9+1.5+2.0)/2 = 6.75 Very reduced usage; playing depth minutes with occasional defensive activity 
1997-98 Orlando “Rotation PG / Veteran Depth” 26.6 Medium-Low 6.2 1.6 1.2 1.6 (1.2 + 0.4) (6.2+1.6+1.2+1.6)/2 = 5.3 Clear transition toward bench role, limited playmaking and offense 
1998-99 L.A. Lakers “End-of-Career Backup PG” 18.5 Medium-Low 4.3 1.0 1.0 1.0 (0.7 + 0.3) (4.3+1.0+1.0+1.0)/2 = 3.65 Very low usage; veteran role with minimal impact