Jrue Holiday is an American basketball player who plays for the Boston Celtics. He is renowned for his elite defense and is a three-time All-NBA Defensive First team member.
Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Holiday was a five-star basketball athlete at Campbell Hall School in Studio City. Before making his mark in the NBA, he spent a season at UCLA, where he showcased his basketball skills alongside future NBA player Darren Collison.
Drafted 17th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2009 NBA Draft, Holiday is a defensive juggernaut with an uncanny ability to disrupt opposition plays. He has exceptional anticipation and his strategic positioning often helps him make high-IQ defensive plays.
Holiday’s quick hands allow him to skillfully swipe at the ball without committing fouls, earning him the reputation of being one of the toughest one-on-one defenders in the NBA, as attested by several numerous top NBA players including Kevin Durant.
Beyond his on-court excellence, Jrue Holiday is a three-time recipient of the NBA Teammate of the Year award in 2020, 2022, and 2023. This prestigious honor recognizes him as the league's "ideal teammate," as he embodies commitment and dedication to his team. Holiday's impact extends beyond the stat sheet, influencing team dynamics and fostering a culture of unity and teamwork.
Holiday Brothers
Jrue Holiday has two brothers, an older brother Justin, and a younger brother, Aaron.
The Holiday family has a remarkable basketball legacy as all of them play in the NBA. Jrue Holiday is the standout of the trio as he is a two-time All-star and regarded as one of the best defenders in the NBA.
Meanwhile, his older brother, Justin Holiday, and younger brother, Aaron Holiday are not All-Star players, but they do play a crucial role as valuable contributors and key off-the-bench role players for their respective NBA teams.
Aaron Holiday last played for the Houston Rockets during the 2023/24 NBA season and Justin Holiday played for the Denver Nuggets in the same season. Both of them are slated to become unrestricted free agents in the 2024 NBA free agency.
Justin Holiday Career
Justin Holiday is the eldest of the Holiday brothers. Unlike his brothers, his journey to the NBA was filled with several hurdles as he had to overcome many the challenges of an undrafted rookie to eventually get a NBA contract.
Justin Holiday’s journey began at the University of Washington, where he played for four years as a versatile wing player, showcasing his prowess as a shooting guard and small forward. Despite a noteworthy college career, Justin Holiday went undrafted in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Undeterred, he decided to play overseas, as he played for Okapi Aalstar in Belgium. This stint allowed him to continue his development and gain valuable experience on the court. The 2012 NBA G League season provided another opportunity for him to prove his mettle to the NBA teams, but no team gave him any contract.
Eventually, Justin Holiday’s big break came in 2014 when he joined the Golden State Warriors. With the Warriors, his on-court contributions during their title-winning 2015 season may not have been statistically significant, but the experience proved invaluable. It was during his time with the Warriors that he established himself as a player with NBA-level talent.
With this breakthrough, Justin Holiday’s career as a journeyman NBA role player began as he had several stops in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Memphis, Indiana, Sacramento, and Dallas. Only with the Indiana Pacers, Justin Holiday found somewhat of some stability as he spent three seasons with them.
Justin Holiday last played for the 2023 NBA champions Denver Nuggets where he contributed as a role player during the 2023/24 NBA season. He was a crucial part of the Nuggets' rotation during the 2024 Playoffs. Over the course of his career, he has developed into a player with good defensive awareness, high basketball IQ, and reliable 3-point shooting.
Aaron Holiday Career
Aaron Holiday is the youngest sibling of the Holiday brothers.
Aaron Holiday also played for his older brother Jrue’s alma mater UCLA. He displayed his prowess as a scoring point guard who can knock down mid-range jumpers and handle the ball efficiently.
His standout junior season, averaging an impressive 20.3 points per game caught the eye of NBA scouts, leading to his selection by the Indiana Pacers with the 23rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
As a rookie, Aaron Holiday found himself as the understudy to seasoned guard Victor Oladipo but from the second season, he played as a starter. In his second season in the NBA, Indiana Pacers also signed Aaron's older brother Justin, providing a rare opportunity for the Holiday brothers to share the court.
Later, Aaron and Justin played together in Atlanta as well. Similar to Justin, Aaron Holiday also had a journeyman role-player career in the NBA as he has donned the jerseys of the Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, and now, the Houston Rockets.
FAQs
A. There are three Holiday brothers in the NBA — Jrue, Aaron, and Justin Holiday.
A. Jrue Holiday plays for the Boston Celtics.
A. Jrue Holiday plays primarily as the point guard, but can also play the shooting guard spot.
A. Jrue Holiday was born in Chatsworth, California, United States.
A. In the 2023/24 NBA season, Jrue Holiday averaged 12.5 points with 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game throughout 69 games.
A. Shawn Holiday and Toya Holiday are the parents of Jrue Holiday. Both of them are former collegiate basketball players.
