Scoring 18 points in a loss to the Houston Rockets last Sunday, former Golden State Warriors training camp invitee Justin Holiday came away hopeful he’d make the regular season roster.
“I mean, you don’t know what’s going to happen so you can’t really kill yourself right now about it,” Holiday said. “Whoever gets it, [I’m] happy for them. Hopefully it’s me, but everyone has worked hard, so if they get it they’ll deserve it.”
No longer needing to be eager, the 25-year-old NBA veteran now officially joins the team in the regular season after rightfully earning the 15th and final roster spot.
Following the team’s win over the Denver Nuggets at Oracle Arena on Friday, several Warriors beat writers broke the news that Holiday had made the season roster and that the team had waived Aaron Craft, James Michael McAdoo, Mitchell Watt, Sean Kilpatrick and Jason Kapono.
Holiday, a second-year NBA veteran out of the University of Washington, was forced to spend some extensive time playing overseas and in the NBA Development League after going undrafted in 2011. He’s also spent some time on a couple NBA rosters that were unfortunately quick to waive him.
Now after an impressive performance during the 2014 Las Vegas Summer League and a solid preseason showing, Holiday believes himself to have finally found a home in the NBA.
“I want to thank Coach Kerr and the Warriors organization for giving me this opportunity,” Holiday said via Twitter. “I am excited to be playing for the best fans in the NBA and with one of the best teams. This will be a fun year. Most importantly I want to thank God, couldn’t have done it without him.”
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr had some words on Holiday, revealing that he thinks highly of Holiday and respects his work ethic.
“He’s an unbelievable guy. He’s a great worker, he’s smart and he’s a team guy. Justin belongs in this league,” said Kerr. “All the guys who are forced to go that (overseas/D-League) route gain a pretty healthy perspective. They gain some wisdom, and they understand what it takes.
“They keep grinding, knowing that nothing is given and everything is earned. That’s one of the reasons I love him, along with the fact that he’s a really good player.”
News of the team keeping Holiday on the roster comes as a relief considering Brandon Rush (back) is still out indefinitely.
Both Holiday and Rush are 6-foot-6-inch players that are capable of playing both the guard and small forward positions, and both are primarily spot-up scorers that can be a bother on the defensive end with their 7-foot wingspans.
Holiday is currently signed on for a single season at a veteran’s minimum contract worth $860k.
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