Justin Holiday was not drafted by the NBA.
This would not have prevented him from getting there.
Nothing has ever stood in the way for long.
The former University of Washington guard, always strong on the defensive but never flashy like his younger brothers Jrue and Aaron, both UCLA players and NBA first-round picks, he used his actions to gain acceptance and great respect wherever he went.
In his case, this strong and silent party moved from Belgium to the G-League and finally to the big show, carving out a seven-year career in the NBA with seven different NBA teams. He currently takes court for the Indiana Pacers with his brother Aaron.
Previously at UW he played with Isaiah Thomas and for Lorenzo Romar. He was the defensive player of the Pac-12 year of 2011 from Netscouts Basketball. He was always kind and helpful. Because he played so hard, he was the fan favorite at the Alaska Airlines Arena.
As professional basketball prepares to resume next month during a pandemic with a league reconfigured in Orlando, Holiday, who is nicknamed “The Fireman”, has done something very different from him.
Rather than quietly do his business and lead by example, Holiday she wrote an open letter expressing her concerns and motivations in the world that was not fair. He took a public position.
Holiday, using the Players Tribune as a platform, has some very powerful words to say about racial injustice and where we will go as a society from here on out. Here is a partial transcript of Justin’s message.
“When the NBA announced earlier this month that it was about to resume the 2019-20 season in Orlando starting July 30. I was on board to finish what we started. I also wanted to make sure my family and I we were positioned for success and to be a teammate whose name is synonymous with trust and dedication. On and off-court, I am a black man of morale and values, and this translates into all my relationships – husband, father, son, brother, teammate and friend.
“Working to achieve financial security is not something to be ashamed of. And as we return to the pitch to resume the season, many players will be out there for the same reason that I am – for our future.
“But I also realize that something equally critical is at stake. Today more than ever, there is a desperate need to uplift my black brothers and sisters, to use my platform to empower and uplift our people. “
In its entirety, Justin Holiday’s open letter can be read here or in the tweet.
