Aaron Holiday Bio
Aaron Shawn Holiday (born September 30, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing about 185 pounds, he has built his reputation as a quick, defense-first guard who can run an offense and knock down outside shots. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, where he earned All-American recognition, and was selected by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft with the 23rd overall pick. Over the course of his career, Holiday has suited up for the Pacers, Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, and the Rockets.
Holiday is the youngest of four children in one of basketball’s most recognizable families. His older brothers Jrue and Justin are also NBA players, and his sister Lauren played on the UCLA women’s basketball team. He is married to Ashli Scott, and the couple has three children.
Early Life and Background
Aaron Holiday was born in Ruston, Louisiana, to Shawn and Toya Holiday. His parents both played college basketball at Arizona State, where his mother was named Pac-10 Player of the Year in 1982. The family eventually relocated to California, and Aaron grew up around the game thanks to his parents’ background and his older brothers’ careers. He attended Campbell Hall School in Los Angeles, where he was a four-year starter on the basketball team.
As a freshman at Campbell Hall, Holiday led the team in scoring, averaging 24.3 points per game. He continued to develop as a junior, when he averaged 28.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.0 assists and was named CIF Southern Section IV-A Player of the Year and Los Angeles Daily News Player of the Year. By his senior year, his scoring dropped slightly as he focused on creating for teammates, but he still averaged 25 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 steals, leading Campbell Hall to its first California regional final since 2008. He was rated a four-star recruit, ranked among the top prep guards in the nation by Scout.com, Rivals.com, and ESPN.com.
Path to the NBA
Holiday enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2015, joining a program coached by Steve Alford. As a freshman in 2015–16, he started all 32 games, averaging 10.3 points while leading the team in steals and three-point field goal percentage. His 127 assists were the fifth-highest freshman total in school history and the most by a UCLA freshman since his brother Jrue recorded 129 in 2008–09.
In his sophomore season, Holiday moved to a bench role behind freshman sensation Lonzo Ball, becoming the Bruins’ sixth man. He averaged 12.3 points and 4.4 assists, helping UCLA finish 31–5 and reach the Sweet 16 of the 2017 NCAA tournament. Briefly declaring for the 2017 NBA draft, he later withdrew his name to retain college eligibility. As a junior in 2017–18, he returned to the starting lineup as the Bruins’ primary point guard and led the Pac-12 in scoring at 20.3 points per game while ranking second with 5.8 assists. He was named third-team All-American, first-team All-Pac-12, and Pac-12 All-Defensive Team, then decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2018 NBA draft.
Aaron Holiday Career
Indiana Pacers (2018–2021)
Holiday was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 23rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft and signed a three-year rookie contract. Early playing time was limited behind veterans Darren Collison, Cory Joseph, and All-Star Victor Oladipo, but Holiday made the most of his opportunities. On November 17, 2018, he scored 12 points and hit three 3-pointers in 15 minutes to lead a 97–89 comeback win over the Atlanta Hawks, and he posted 19 points and seven rebounds two nights later in a win over the Utah Jazz.
After Oladipo suffered a season-ending right knee injury in January 2019, Holiday rejoined the rotation. On February 5, 2019, he scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting as the Pacers routed the Los Angeles Lakers 136–94, handing LeBron James the most lopsided loss of his career. He appeared in 50 games as a rookie, averaging 5.9 points. The following season, he scored a career-high 25 points on December 28, 2019, against the New Orleans Pelicans, and that same game marked the first time three brothers (Justin, Jrue, and Aaron) shared an NBA court. In 2020–21, the Pacers picked up his fourth-year option, and he averaged 7.2 points while shooting 36.8 percent from three-point range before missing the final four regular-season games with a toe injury.
Washington Wizards (2021–2022)
On August 6, 2021, Holiday was traded to the Washington Wizards in a multi-player, five-team deal that also sent Isaiah Todd to Washington. He opened the season as a starter in place of the injured Bradley Beal and scored seven points in an overtime win over his former Pacers team. As the year went on, his minutes decreased, though he started the last four games leading into the trade deadline while continuing to contribute on both ends of the floor.
Phoenix Suns (2022)
On February 10, 2022, Holiday was traded to the Phoenix Suns for cash considerations and a trade exception. At the time, he was averaging 6.1 points and 1.9 assists per game in Washington, while shooting a career-high 47 percent from the field. He averaged 6.8 points across 22 games with the Suns, providing veteran guard depth during the stretch run of the regular season.
Atlanta Hawks (2022–2023)
Holiday signed with the Atlanta Hawks for the 2022–23 season, reuniting him with former Pacers coach Nate McMillan and his brother Justin. McMillan was fired during the season and replaced by Quin Snyder, and Justin was traded before the playoffs. Holiday fell out of the rotation in the postseason as the Hawks were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the opening round.
Houston Rockets (2023–Present)
On July 10, 2023, Holiday signed with the Houston Rockets, looking for a fresh opportunity in a young backcourt. He re-signed with the team on July 6, 2024, and again on July 10, 2025, on a one-year contract, continuing his role as a steady veteran presence. With the Rockets, he has provided defense, ball-handling, and outside shooting off the bench.
Driving Style and Strengths
Holiday is best known for his quickness, on-ball defense, and ability to apply full-court pressure. Throughout his career, coaches have entrusted him with the task of guarding the opposing team’s top perimeter scorer, and he has earned All-Defensive recognition at both the college and NBA levels. He is a reliable three-point shooter, a willing passer, and a smart decision-maker who fits well in a structured offense alongside younger guards.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of Holiday’s career came on December 28, 2019, when he played alongside brothers Justin and Jrue in a game against the Pelicans, becoming part of the first trio of brothers to share an NBA court at the same time. In college, his 33-point, 11-rebound, zero-turnover performance against Washington State in 2017 made him the first UCLA player since Ed O’Bannon in 1995 to record at least 33 points and 11 rebounds in a single game. He also hit the game-winning layup with 0.8 seconds left to beat Wisconsin in the 2017 CBE Hall of Fame Classic.
Aaron Holiday Career Highlights
Across his NBA career, Holiday has established himself as a dependable role player known for defense, three-point shooting, and steady guard play. While he has not been a primary scorer on any roster, his willingness to take on the toughest defensive assignment and knock down timely shots has kept him in the league year after year.
NBA Career Highlights
Holiday has been a first-round draft pick, a 50-game rookie contributor for a Pacers team that reached the playoffs, and a veteran guard who has helped five franchises with depth and outside shooting. He has played in both the regular season and postseason for the Pacers and Hawks, and he continues to be a key reserve for the Rockets.
College and High School Accolades
At Campbell Hall, Holiday was a four-year starter, a two-time Los Angeles Daily News Player of the Year, and the CIF Southern Section IV-A Player of the Year. At UCLA, he was a third-team All-American, a first-team All-Pac-12 selection, and a Pac-12 All-Defensive Team member as a junior in 2017–18, when he led the conference in scoring.
Aaron Holiday Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Holiday comes from one of the most accomplished basketball families in the country. His parents, Shawn and Toya, both played college basketball at Arizona State, where Toya was the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 1982. His older brothers, Jrue Holiday and Justin Holiday, have both had long NBA careers, and his sister Lauren played on the UCLA women’s basketball team. He is also the brother-in-law of U.S. women’s national soccer team player Lauren Holiday.
Personal Life
Aaron Holiday married Ashli Scott on May 14, 2020. The couple has three children together, and Ashli also has a step-daughter from a previous relationship with NBA player Solomon Hill. The family has continued to be a central part of Holiday’s life as he has moved between teams around the league.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into the 2025 season, Holiday re-signed with the Houston Rockets on July 10, 2025, on a one-year contract, ensuring continuity in a young and developing backcourt. The Rockets have built around a core of rising guards and versatile forwards, and Holiday is expected to serve as a veteran voice and steady defender off the bench.
With his track record of guarding the opponent’s top perimeter player and his dependable three-point shooting, Holiday is likely to remain a key piece in coach Ime Udoka’s rotation. The 2025 campaign gives him another opportunity to contribute to a team looking to climb the Western Conference standings and return to playoff contention.