Justin Holiday
A journeyman defensive specialist who carved out a lasting NBA career through grit, becoming a champion after going undrafted and playing for over a third of the league's teams.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American basketball player·Birthday: April 5·Millennials
Biography
Justin Holiday's path to professional basketball is a testament to persistence and self-invention. Undrafted out of the University of Washington, he spent years in the NBA's developmental league and on brief contracts, his value not in scoring titles but in relentless perimeter defense and a reliable corner three-pointer. His breakthrough came with a golden opportunity: a spot on the deep 2014-15 Golden State Warriors roster, where his specific skillset contributed to an NBA championship. That ring became his passport, proving he belonged. From there, Holiday became the ultimate basketball mercenary, playing for a remarkable 11 different NBA teams. His career, shared with his brothers Jrue and Aaron, forms a unique family trilogy in the league, with Justin's story being the archetype of the tenacious role player who never stopped earning his place.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Justin was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Justin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Justin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an NBA championship as a member of the Golden State Warriors in 2015.
- Has played for 11 different NBA franchises, illustrating his valued role as a veteran defender and shooter.
- Led the NBA in total steals during the 2021-22 season while playing for the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers.
- Earned NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2023 for his work with the Atlanta Hawks.
Did You Know?
He and his brothers Jrue and Aaron made history in 2019 as the first trio of brothers to all win an NBA championship.
He played in 10 different countries, including Belgium, Hungary, and China, before securing a stable NBA role.
He went undrafted in 2011 after playing college basketball for the Washington Huskies.
He is the oldest of the three Holiday brothers currently playing professional basketball.
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