Aaron Holiday facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Aaron Holiday

Holiday with the Washington Wizards in 2021
No. 0 – Houston Rockets
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1996-09-30) September 30, 1996 (age 28) Ruston, Louisiana, U.S.
High school	Campbell Hall (Los Angeles, California)
Listed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
College	UCLA (2015–2018)
NBA Draft	2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23rd overall
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Pro career	2018–present
League	NBA
Career history
2018–2021	Indiana Pacers
2021–2022	Washington Wizards
2022	Phoenix Suns
2022–2023	Atlanta Hawks
2023–present	Houston Rockets
Career highlights and awards
Third-team All-American – SN (2018) First-team All-Pac-12 (2018) Pac-12 All-Defensive Team (2018)

Aaron Shawn Holiday (born September 30, 1996) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, Aaron played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. He was recognized as an All-American during his college career.

The Indiana Pacers picked him in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft. He was the 23rd player chosen overall. In high school, Aaron was one of the top players in the country. He started playing for UCLA as a freshman. Later, he became a key player, especially as a point guard. He earned top honors in the Pac-12 conference. Aaron is also the younger brother of other NBA players, Jrue and Justin Holiday.

Aaron Holiday's Early Life and High School Basketball

Aaron Holiday was born in Ruston, Louisiana. His parents, Shawn and Toya Holiday, both played college basketball. His mom, Toya, was even named Pac-10 Player of the Year in 1982.

Aaron went to Campbell Hall in Los Angeles. He was a starter on the basketball team for all four years. As a freshman, he led his team in scoring. He averaged 24.3 points per game. In his junior year, he averaged 28.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. He was named Player of the Year by the CIF Southern Section IV-A and the Los Angeles Daily News.

As a senior, Aaron focused more on passing the ball. This helped his teammates score more points. He averaged 25 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 steals. He led Campbell Hall to its first sectional and California regional final since 2008. Experts rated him as a top college recruit.

Aaron Holiday's College Basketball Journey at UCLA

Aaron Holiday joined the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) known for his strong defense. His coach, Steve Alford, saw him as a natural point guard. He hoped Aaron could help with ball-handling duties.

Freshman Season: Starting Strong at UCLA

Aaron started all 32 games in his first season (2015–16). He played as a guard alongside Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton. In December 2015, he helped UCLA upset No. 1 Kentucky. He scored 10 points, had seven assists, and eight rebounds.

He averaged 10.3 points per game. He also led the team in steals (1.4) and three-point shooting (41.9%). His 127 assists were one of the highest totals for a UCLA freshman.

Sophomore Season: Becoming a Key Reserve Player

In the 2016–17 season, Aaron became the team's sixth man. This meant he came off the bench instead of starting. Even with less starting time, he played well. He didn't complain about his new role.

In December 2016, he helped UCLA win against No. 1 Kentucky again. He scored 13 points and had four assists. UCLA made it to the NCAA tournament. Aaron had 15 points and a career-high 11 assists in their first game. He helped the Bruins win 97–80. For the season, he averaged 12.3 points and 4.4 assists. He was recognized for his defense.

Junior Season: All-American Recognition

Holiday was named a third-team All-American as a junior with UCLA in 2018.

Aaron became the main starting point guard in the 2017–18 season. He was the team's top returning scorer. In December 2017, he scored 27 points against Michigan. He also had 20 points and eight assists in an upset win over No. 7 Kentucky. This earned him his first Pac-12 Player of the Week award.

In a game against Washington State, Aaron scored a career-high 33 points. He also had 11 rebounds and four assists. He played the entire 40 minutes without any turnovers. He was the first UCLA player since 1995 to have such high numbers in points and rebounds.

Aaron continued to play strongly throughout the season. He scored 34 points in the final regular-season game against USC. He also scored 34 points in the Pac-12 Tournament opener. He finished the season averaging 20.3 points per game. This was the first time a UCLA player averaged over 20 points since 1995. He was named a third-team All-American. He also earned first-team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honors. After this great season, Aaron decided to enter the NBA draft.

Aaron Holiday's Professional Basketball Career

Indiana Pacers (2018–2021)

The Indiana Pacers drafted Aaron Holiday in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft. He signed a three-year contract. At first, it was hard for him to get much playing time. But he showed his skills when he got the chance. In November 2018, he scored 12 points to help the Pacers win against the Atlanta Hawks.

Later, when a key player was injured, Aaron got more playing time. He scored 19 points and had seven rebounds against the Utah Jazz. In February 2019, he scored 17 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Pacers won that game by a large margin. He played in 50 games his rookie season.

In 2019, Aaron's older brother, Justin, joined the Pacers. On December 28, 2019, Aaron scored a career-high 25 points. On the same day, Aaron, Justin, and their brother Jrue (who played for the Pelicans) made history. They became the first trio of brothers to play on an NBA court at the same time! Aaron often started games when other players were injured.

Washington Wizards (2021–2022)

Holiday (center) with his brother Jrue (left) of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021

In August 2021, Aaron was traded to the Washington Wizards. In October, he started a game against his former team, the Pacers. He scored seven points in an overtime win. His playing time changed throughout the season.

Phoenix Suns (2022)

In February 2022, Aaron was traded to the Phoenix Suns. He was averaging 6.1 points per game for Washington at the time. He played 22 games for the Suns, averaging 6.8 points per game.

Atlanta Hawks (2022–2023)

Aaron signed with the Atlanta Hawks for the 2022–23 season. This reunited him with his former coach and his brother Justin. He played 63 games for the Hawks. In the playoffs, he had limited playing time.

Houston Rockets (2023–present)

On July 10, 2023, Aaron Holiday signed with the Houston Rockets. He re-signed with the Rockets in July 2024.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Play-in

Playoffs

College

Aaron Holiday's Personal Life and Family

Aaron Holiday is the youngest of four children. All of his siblings became basketball players. His brothers, Justin and Jrue, also play in the NBA. His sister, Lauren, played for the UCLA women's basketball team.

Aaron is married to Ashli Scott. They have two children together.

See also

In Spanish: Aaron Holiday para niños