Richaun Holmes Bio
Richaun Diante Holmes is an American professional basketball player who plays for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basketball League and the EuroLeague. Listed at 6 feet 9 inches and 235 pounds, he plays the center position and is known for his rebounding and rim protection. Over his career, Holmes has suited up for the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, and Washington Wizards before moving to Europe in 2025.
Born on October 15, 1993, in Lockport, Illinois, Holmes attended Lockport Township High School before playing college basketball at Moraine Valley Community College and Bowling Green State University. He entered the NBA after being selected in the second round of the 2015 draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and has built a reputation as an efficient scorer around the basket.
Early Life and Background
Richaun Diante Holmes was born on October 15, 1993, in Lockport, Illinois, and grew up in the Chicago area. He is the son of two Doctors of Divinity who run a Chicago-area church, and he was raised in a family environment centered on education and faith. His upbringing in the Midwest shaped his early introduction to basketball and competitive sports.
Holmes attended Lockport Township High School in Lockport, Illinois, where he experienced a significant growth spurt that changed his position on the court. He grew from a 6-foot-2 guard into a 6-foot-9 forward during his high school years. Despite his rapid physical development, he did not receive any Division I college basketball scholarship offers until after he had already committed to playing at the junior college level.
Path to Basketball
Because Division I scholarship offers did not arrive in time, Holmes committed to Moraine Valley Community College in Illinois for his first college season. In his only year at Moraine Valley, he averaged 19.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.2 blocks per game, which earned him junior college All-American honors. That production quickly attracted attention from four-year programs.
Holmes transferred to Bowling Green State University, where he played for the Falcons from 2012 to 2015. After a steady sophomore season, he doubled his scoring average as a junior and became one of the top frontcourt players in the Mid-American Conference. His senior year under coach Chris Jans produced averages of 14.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game on 56.3 percent shooting from the field and 41.9 percent from three-point range, and he was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and First-team All-MAC.
Richaun Holmes Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Richaun Diante Holmes entered the NBA when he was selected with the 37th overall pick in the second round of the 2015 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He signed his rookie contract on July 31, 2015, after averaging 10 points and five rebounds in three summer league games. His first NBA start came on November 9, 2015, when he scored 11 points against the Chicago Bulls.
Holmes became a regular part of the 76ers rotation in February 2017, following the Nerlens Noel trade and the prolonged absence of Joel Embiid. During that stretch he produced standout performances, including 12 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks in a win over the Washington Wizards, and a career-high 25 points against the Atlanta Hawks in March 2017. He was briefly assigned to the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League earlier that season to gain additional playing time.
Philadelphia 76ers Era (2015–2018)
Across three seasons in Philadelphia, Holmes developed into a high-energy frontcourt player who could finish above the rim and protect the basket. His role expanded significantly during the 2016–17 season when injuries and trades opened up minutes, and he responded with multiple double-doubles and a new career high in scoring. The 76ers exercised the fourth-year option on his rookie contract on June 13, 2018, signaling their confidence in his continued development.
Phoenix Suns Breakout (2018–2019)
On July 20, 2018, Holmes was traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for cash considerations, marking the start of a new chapter in his career. He quickly established himself as an interior presence for Phoenix, posting season highs of 13 points and 10 rebounds against the Brooklyn Nets on November 6, 2018, and later scoring 19 points in an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on December 10, 2018. He also recorded a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double against the Houston Rockets in March 2019 while playing only 16 minutes.
Sacramento Kings Era (2019–2023)
Holmes signed a two-year contract worth $10 million with the Sacramento Kings on July 16, 2019, becoming a focal point of their frontcourt. He became a reliable scoring option near the basket, and on August 6, 2021, he re-signed with the Kings on a four-year, $55 million contract that reflected his importance to the team. His time in Sacramento was interrupted on March 18, 2022, when he was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to personal issues.
Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards Era (2023–2025)
On July 6, 2023, Holmes was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Dallas Mavericks as part of a package that also included the draft rights to Olivier-Maxence Prosper. He later moved to the Washington Wizards on February 8, 2024, in a deal that sent Daniel Gafford to Dallas, and he signed an extension with the Wizards on June 29, 2024. After one and a half seasons in Washington, Holmes was waived on July 14, 2025, clearing the way for his move overseas.
Panathinaikos Era (2025–Present)
On August 9, 2025, Holmes signed with Panathinaikos of the Greek Basketball League and the EuroLeague after Panathinaikos failed to secure Lithuanian center Jonas Valančiūnas. His contract is a two-year deal with a 1+1 structure, allowing both sides to evaluate the partnership after the first season, and he is reported to be among the highest-paid players in Europe at approximately €2.7 million for the first year.
He debuted for Panathinaikos with 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 106–89 win over the Adelaide 36ers in the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament final. In his fourth EuroLeague game of the 2025–26 season, Holmes delivered 24 points and 10 rebounds on 11-of-12 shooting in a 91–85 win over ASVEL Basket. His early progress was interrupted on October 29, 2025, when he suffered a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during a EuroLeague home win over Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C., sidelining him for approximately one month.
Driving Style and Strengths
Holmes has primarily played center and power forward and is recognized for his rim protection, quick feet, and finishing ability around the basket. He developed a push shot that has become an efficient tool in his offensive game, and he has shown the ability to step out and shoot from beyond the arc during stretches of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments of his career include his 25-point career high against the Atlanta Hawks in March 2017, his 19-point game against the Los Angeles Clippers in December 2018, and his 24-point, 10-rebound EuroLeague performance against ASVEL Basket in 2025. He was also named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and First-team All-MAC in 2015 while at Bowling Green.
Richaun Holmes Career Wins
Richaun Diante Holmes has competed across multiple NBA franchises and the EuroLeague since 2015, contributing to winning efforts as a rotational big man and starter. While detailed career totals are limited, his most notable team results include postseason runs with the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings, plus a EuroLeague debut tournament title with Panathinaikos.
NBA Highlights
Holmes joined the Philadelphia 76ers as a second-round pick in 2015 and went on to play for the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, and Washington Wizards over the following decade. His standout win as a Sixer came on February 24, 2017, when he posted 12 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks to help Philadelphia defeat the Washington Wizards 120–112.
EuroLeague and International Performances
In Europe, Holmes opened his Panathinaikos career by winning the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament with a 14-point, 10-rebound performance against the Adelaide 36ers. He followed that with a 24-point, 10-rebound outing in a 91–85 EuroLeague victory over ASVEL Basket, signaling his rapid adaptation to the international game.
Richaun Holmes Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Richaun Diante Holmes is the son of two Doctors of Divinity who operate a church in the Chicago area. He grew up in a faith-centered household that emphasized education, and he has often credited his family for grounding him through the ups and downs of a professional basketball career.
Personal Life
Holmes has kept much of his personal life private, and limited public details are available about his spouse or children. He is known to maintain close ties to his family in Illinois and credits his parents for supporting his transition from a late-blooming high school prospect to a multi-year NBA veteran and EuroLeague professional.
2025 Season Performance
Richaun Diante Holmes began the 2025–26 season with Panathinaikos, signing a high-value two-year deal that placed him among the top-paid players in European basketball. His early performances suggested a strong fit with the team, including a 24-point, 10-rebound EuroLeague game against ASVEL Basket that highlighted his efficiency and rebounding strength.
His momentum was interrupted on October 29, 2025, when a partial MCL tear in his right knee forced him out of a EuroLeague home win over Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. The injury is expected to sideline him for approximately one month, and Panathinaikos will rely on his recovery to remain competitive in both the Greek Basketball League and the EuroLeague.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2025 and early 2026, Holmes is expected to return to the Panathinaikos frontcourt rotation as a central figure in their EuroLeague campaign. If he regains his early-season form, his combination of interior scoring, rim protection, and three-point shooting could make him one of the more impactful American big men playing in Europe this season.