UCLA Basketball: Veteran Former Bruin Officially Inks Deal With New NBA Franchise

LA native-turned-UCLA star-turned journeyman pro has inked a deal with his latest team.

Ex-UCLA Bruins point guard Aaron Holiday, the youngest brother in a triumvirate of UCLA hoopers, has officially latched on with his newest NBA franchise, following a moratorium on transactions (aside from rookie and two-way contracts) for the first week of July, as the 2023-24 season officially kicks off.

Holiday is the younger brother to Denver Nuggets swingman Justin (who actually attended the Washington University), Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Jrue (a UCLA Bruin from 2008-09) and former UCLA women's team guard Lauren (a redshirt freshman during 2012-13). Jrue's wife, also named Lauren, played soccer for the Bruins before going pro.

The 6' Aaron Holiday suited up in the blue and gold from 2015-18. During his final collegiate season, he was named an All-Pac-12 First Teamer, a Pac-12 All-Defensive Teamer, and a Third Team All-American. Across 33 contests (all starts) during his junior year in 2017-18 (his last before turning pro), Holiday averaged 20.3 points on .461/.429/.828 shooting splits, 5.8 assists (against 3.8 turnovers), 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals a night.

He was selected with the No. 23 pick by the Indiana Pacers, where he looked like a solid energy-changing, defense-first reserve option for a while. He was eventually flipped to the Washington Wizards in the summer of 2021, and has since played for the Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks.

Aaron Holiday holds averages of 6.6 points on a .413/.377/.841 slash line, all respectable numbers in limited run, but is a bit undersized for the position and has yet to emerge as a particularly great passer at the next level.

The revamped Houston Rockets announced Aaron's official signing on their Twitter page to commemorate his arrival to his fifth NBA franchise. Per Spotrac, the contract is a one-year, non-guaranteed veteran's minimum deal worth $2,346,614 (with $1.1 million of that guaranteed). The full contract becomes wholly guaranteed in January, should Aaron stick around that long.