In 2000-01 among Eastern Conference starting shooting guards he ranked fifth in scoring, behind Allen Iverson (31.1 - 1st in the NBA), Jerry Stackhouse (29.8 - 2nd), Vince Carter (27.6 - 5th), Ray Allen (22.0) and Jason Terry (19.7)
Selected to the 1997-98 Schick All-Rookie First Team
Among rookies in 1997-98 he ranked 2nd in steals (1.56 spg), 3rd in scoring (15.3 ppg), 4th in free-throw percentage (.839), 8th in field-goal percentage (.450) and 9th in assists (2.2 apg)
On the Celtics in 1997-98 ranked 2nd in scoring and steals
As a rookie he posted a season-high 31 points, 6 steals, 4 rebounds and 3 assists against the Houston Rockets on 3/19/98
In the 1998 NBA All-Star Weekend in New York he totaled 8 points and 4 rebounds in the Schick Rookie Game
In his NBA Debut against the Chicago Bulls, on 10/31/97scored 11 points and 5 rebounds.
Unanimously chosen as the 1996-97 SEC Player of the Year and awarded First Team All-America by The AP, after his sophomore year at Kentucky
In the NCAA Final Four in both of his seasons at Kentucky earned all-tournament team at the NCAA Final Four.
A member of the 1996 NCAA Champions the Kentucky Wildcats as a freshman.

After leading the University of Kentucky to an NCAA championship as a freshman and scoring over 1,000 points in two seasons, Ron Mercer elected to turn pro and was picked by the Boston Celtics on the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft, the sixth player chosen overall. Traded by the Celtics along with Popeye Jones and Dwayne Schintzius to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Danny Fortson, Eric Williams, Eric Washington and a future draft choice on 8/3/99. Signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls on 8/1/00.
2000-01:
Ron appeared in 61 games, making 61 starts. He averaged career highs of 19.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists and a career-best 41.6 minutes which was fourth best in the NBA. His Scoring average would have ranked 27th in the NBA if he would have played in enough games to qualify. He led the Chicago Bulls in scoring 26 times and assists in 14 games. Scored 20 or more points on 26 occasions and 30 or more eight times. Scored a career-high 39 points (16-25 FG, 2-2 3-pt. FG, 5-5 FT) to accompany 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals versus Portland. Ron also recorded two double-doubles, both against his former team the Orlando Magic (23 points, 10 rebounds on November 9 and 18 points, 10 assists on March 20). He scored 33 points (13-22 FG, 7-8 FT) on December 28 against the Spurs. He was named Chicago Bulls Player of the Month for December after starting 14 games, averaging 43.1 minutes, a team-high 22.7 points, 2.36 steals, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists, shooting .450 from the floor and .803 from the free throw line. In January he averaged 21.0 points, 3.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds. He played a career-high 58 minutes, scoring 27 points (12-32 FG, 3-4 FT) and grabbed 6 rebounds, in triple-OT contest at Charlotte on January 9. Against another former team, the Boston Celtics (the team that drafted him out of Kentucky) Mercer averaged a team-high 24.3 points, shooting 57% from the floor, with 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists. He ended up as fifth among Eastern Conference starting shooting guards in scoring, behind Allen Iverson (31.1 - 1st in the NBA), Jerry Stackhouse (29.8 - 2nd), Vince Carter (27.6 - 5th), Ray Allen (22.0) and Jason Terry (19.7). In 47 games prior to the All-Star break, averaged 42.1 minutes, 20.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.47 steals. Ron ended up missing one game, while he was out with the flu, missed 10 games due to a left ankle sprain and missed another 10 games due to right ankle tendonitis (Apr. 3-18).In the month of December named CDW Chicago Bulls Player of the Month. After starting 14 games, averaging 43.1 minutes, a team-high 22.7 points, 2.36 steals, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists, shooting .450 from the floor and .803 from the free throw line.

1999-2000:
Ron netted 27 points in a 106-100 win over Toronto, and he then scored a game-high 22 points in a 103-97 win over New Jersey. Ron contributed 26 points in an 89-85 loss at Philadelphia. He dropped in 27 points in a 103-94 win over Seattle and was then traded to the Orlando Magic on 2/1, along with Chauncey Billups and Johnny Taylor, in exchange for Tariq Abdul-Wahad, Chris Gatling and a lottery-protected, future first round draft pick . He than recorded 25 points and 6 assists in a 103-93 loss to Seattle as a Magic. Than went on to score 20 points and 6 rebounds in a 128-105 win over the Clippers, 25 points and snared 8 rebounds in an 86-84 win over San Antonio, and registered 25 points and 6 rebounds in a 116-106 win over Sacramento. Scored 26 points in a 106-87 loss in San Antonio, and scored a game-high 27 points in a 114-105 victory over Minnesota. Dropped in another game-high by recording 30 points and snaring 7 boards in a 102-95 loss to the  New York Knicks. Scored another 31 points (11-17 FG, 5-8 3 FG, 4-4 FT) in a 109-94 loss in Vancouver. He than signed as a free agent by the Chicago Bulls on August 2, 2000.

1998-99:
As a rookie Mercer stats improved dramatically in 1998-99 season, when he was Boston's second-leading scorer and its leader in minutes per game. In his career-high record, Mercer registered 23 points, and a team-high 10 rebounds and 4 assists against the Charlotte Hornets on 5/5 ... Posted a game-high 24 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals in a 103-89 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on 4/12 ... Totaled a game-high 29 points (13-25 FG), 7 assists, 6 steals and 3 rebounds against the Orlando Magic on 4/5 ... Recorded a game-high 24 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals against the Indiana Pacers on 3/28 ... Registered a game-high 26 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists against the Chicago Bulls on 3/21 ... Posted 22 points (8-15 FG, 5-6 FT), 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals against the Toronto Raptors on 3/7 ... Totaled a career-high 35 points (15-24 FG, 5-6 FT) and 6 rebounds in a 102-94 victory over the Denver Nuggets on 3/5 ... Recorded a game-high 22 points (9-16 FG, 4-4 FT) and 4 assists against the Cleveland Cavaliers on 3/2 ... Registered a game-high 24 points and 8 rebounds against the Sacramento Kings on 2/16. On August 3, 1999, Mercer was part of a major trading deal along side forward Popeye Jones and center Dwayne Schintzius to the Denver Nuggets for forwards Danny Fortson and Eric Williams, guard Eric Washington and a future draft choice.

1997-98:
Mercer reunited with his former Kentucky Wildcats coach, Rick Pitino, when Mercer made the move to the Boston Celtics. Mercer made a huge contribution to the Celtics and NBA as a starter and finished second among all rookies in total points. The second of Boston s first-round picks in 1997 (Chauncey Billups was taken third overall), Mercer played in 80 games for the Celtics in his rookie year and started 61 of them. He got better as the season went on, scoring in double figures in 31 of 35 games following the All-Star break and the final 14 games of the season. For the season he averaged 15.3 points per game and was voted to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. ... Posted 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on 4/14 ... Totaled 21 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in a 102-92 victory over the New York Knicks on 4/5 ... Scored a team-high 23 points in an 82-76 victory over the New Jersey Nets on 3/27 ... Mercer connected with 24 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists against the Miami Heat on 3/25 ... Recorded 24 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in a 108-90 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on 3/22 ... Posted a season-high 31 points, 6 steals, 4 rebounds and 3 assists against the Houston Rockets on 3/19 ... Totaled 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals in a 108-98 victory over the Washington Wizards on 3/6 ... Registered a game-high 24 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in a 120-88 victory over the Golden Warriors on 2/27 ... Scored a game-high 28 points and grabbed 3 rebounds against the Portland Trail Blazers on 2/22 ... Recorded 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists against the Golden State Warriors on 2/15 ... Posted a team-high 24 points and 5 rebounds against the Utah Jazz on 2/12 ... Totaled 8 points and 4 rebounds in the Schick Rookie Game during the 1998 NBA All-Star Weekend in New York ... Registered a team-high 21 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists against the Indiana Pacers on 1/18 ... Recorded a game-high 28 points (13-21 FG), 8 rebounds and 3 steals in a 102-96 win over the Charlotte Hornets on 12/23 ... Posted 26 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists against the Phoenix Suns on 11/28 ... Totaled a team-high 23 points (9-14 FG, 4-5 FT), 4 rebounds and 3 steals against the Orlando Magic on 11/2 ... Registered 11 points and 5 rebounds, in his NBA debut, in a 92-85 victory over the Chicago Bulls on 10/31

In the 1997 NBA Draft the Boston Celtics selected Mercer in the first round (6th pick overall). Traded by the Celtics along with Popeye Jones and Dwayne Schintzius to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Danny Fortson, Eric Williams, Eric Washington and a future draft choice on 8/3/99. Signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls on 8/1/00.