The Holiday household has taken the NBA by storm. It’s already enough that Jrue Holiday is a 2x ringholder, and Justin Holiday was a prominent figure throughout multiple teams in the league in the 2010s. Now, their youngest sibling, Aaron Holiday, is a key rotational player in a Rockets side soaring into the playoffs in red-hot form.
He’s a part of a very wide community of African-American players in the Association, and is grabbing every opportunity he gets in the first team. He’s built his basketball career on a foundation of family legacy, Christian values, and competitive sibling dynamics. We take a look at his upbringing and see how it’s shaped his career in the majors.
Where is Aaron Holiday from? What is the Rockets star’s nationality?
Aaron was born on September 30th, 1996, in Ruston, Louisiana. But his parents, Shawn and Toya, chose to move to LA, hoping for Aaron to grow in the city’s vibrant and vast sports culture. I know what you must be thinking- a family of four siblings, all successful athletes in two sports. There must be some roots to all of this, right? Well, Shawn and Toya both played college basketball for Arizona State. In fact, Toya was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 1982.
You might’ve noticed the fact that four siblings were mentioned, yet only Jrue’s, Aaron’s, and Justin’s names were taken. Well, their oldest sibling, Lauren, is the most successful athlete of them all. So much so that she was the first player in NWSL history to have her jersey retired after retiring from the league. Lauren’s a former US National Team soccer player, winning two Olympic gold medals and also a FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015.
But despite their interests, they raised their children on organic growth values, and most importantly, prioritizing spiritual growth in the form of Christianity. The Holiday family’s social image is littered with praises to the Almighty. When Aaron’s brother Jrue’s wife was diagnosed with a brain tumour, he prioritized her health and care over basketball, famously stating, “There is nothing in life my wife can’t conquer with Jesus Christ in her corner.” Justin’s Twitter feed is dominated by Bible verses. And all of this is aided by their high school days spent in Campbell Hall School, a private institution in Los Angeles with strong academic and spiritual foundations.
Feb 21, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday (0) controls the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) defends during the game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Aaron’s mother, Toya, emphasized moral integrity: “You have to work on the person you want to be… When people look at you, what do you want them to see?” These moral values helped Aaron develop the patience and perseverance to become a valuable youngster in the Rockets’ lineup. Toya’s morality and Shawn’s humility- highlighted by him being quoted saying, “You want Him [Jesus] to shine… You don’t want [fans] to take home ugliness. You want them to take home goodness,” is what made him the player he is today.
Which college did Aaron Holiday attend?
Aaron Holiday was rated a four-star college recruit as one of the top prep players in the nation. He opted to play for the UCLA Bruins in 2015, where he was a presence from day 1. Golden Eagles head coach Dieter Horton admired his ability to disrupt, calling him a “little Tasmanian devil on defense”, while Aztecs coach Steve Fisher called him “by far the best player on the floor” when they had a match against the Bruins in his junior year. Holiday started all 32 games during the season, averaging 10.3 points and 4 assists in a moderate season for the Bruins as a whole.
His sophomore year saw a drop in playing time, though, with the introduction of Lonzo Ball into the lineup. But his faith never let him down, and he embraced his role as the sixth man with open arms. What did that lead to? A better season. He averaged 12.3 points and 4.4 assists in over 26 minutes per game, and received honorable mention for the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team in the 2016-17 NCAA season.
His junior year saw him reintegrated back into the 5 after Ball was picked up by the Lakers in the 2017 draft. He finished the season averaging 20.3 PPG and 5.8 APG, with the prior being the highest in the Pac-12 Conference. After earning Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honors, he declared for the 2018 draft. The Pacers subsequently picked him up in the first round with the 23rd overall pick.
Mar 15, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday (0) shoots outside against the Chicago Bulls during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Aaron Holiday’s career is a testament to having faith in Jesus and much-needed humility. The Rockets star’s parents, Shawn and Toya, never made him forget his religion and African-American ethnicity- a badge he wears proudly to this day.
The post What Are Aaron Holiday’s Ethnicity & Religion? All About Rockets Star’s Nationality & Early Life Revealed appeared first on EssentiallySports.
