Happy Holidays: Justin, Jrue, Aaron in one game

NEW ORLEANS — It was Happy Holidays indeed for the Holiday family on Saturday night.

According to research by the Elias Sports Bureau, Justin, Jrue and Aaron Holiday became the first trio of brothers to play in an NBA game when Justin checked in at the 5:13 mark in the first quarter of Saturday’s contest between Jrue’s New Orleans Pelicans and Aaron and Justin’s Indiana Pacers.

Jrue started the game for the Pelicans while Aaron started for the Pacers, but Jrue took a seat at the break when Justin checked in.

All three brothers took the court at the same time with 4:54 left in the third quarter. Jrue and Aaron were still on the court from starting the second half and Justin checked into the game at that point.

“It’s a blessing,” Shawn Holiday, the brothers’ father said before the game. “There’s no other way to put it. You couldn’t write the script any better than this. Them growing up, you couldn’t envision this. For it to come true at this stage and this level, it’s pretty amazing.”

Jrue, 29, entered the NBA in 2009 when he was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers. Justin, 30, made his NBA debut with the 76ers in April 2013 and played briefly with Jrue that season.

The youngest Holiday brother, Aaron, 23, didn’t make his debut until 2018 when he was the 23rd overall pick by the Pacers.

“We’re really happy he’s able to play with his younger brother,” Shawn said of Justin signing with Indiana. “Coming in young and not really knowing, it’s good to have somebody there. He’s a veteran that can lead himself. He has someone that can have his back on the road or when he has a down game or something is going wrong. He has his older brother to hang with and talk to.”

All three brothers played against one another last season, but the possibility of all three playing in the same game inched closer to reality this summer when Justin signed a one-year deal with the Pacers.

Shawn Holiday and the boys’ sister Lauren estimated there are roughly 30 family members and friends in attendance in New Orleans on Saturday.

“It don’t get no better than this,” Shawn said. “Just to see them enjoy it, that brings joy to us. That’s the most joy that we get is watching them. They really enjoy playing with each other and being around each other. It’s going to be a lot of fun when they are all on the court.”

The sibling rivalry was taken to another level with the game. On Friday after Pelicans practice, Jrue was playful when asked about the game.

“I guess I’m just excited to play against them both together. That’s never been done before in my family because of the age gap. I’m pretty excited to win, I mean, to play against them.”

The Holiday brothers aren’t the only family connection in Saturday’s game. Indiana head coach Nate McMillan’s son Jamelle is an assistant coach on the Pelicans’ staff.

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