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The Indiana Pacers select Aaron Holiday with the 23rd pick

By Tony East

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Aaron Holiday shakes hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected number twenty three overall by the Indiana Pacers during the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Aaron Holiday shakes hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected number twenty three overall by the Indiana Pacers during the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Indiana Pacers had the 23rd selection in the NBA draft. They chose Aaron Holiday with the pick.

The Indian Pacers seem to love drafting players from UCLA, as they snagged their third in two years. In the first round of the 2018 NBA draft, the Pacers selected Aaron Holiday with the 23rd overall pick.

Holiday, a point guard from UCLA, has NBA ties already. His older brothers, Jrue and Justin Holiday, both have had multi-year NBA careers. Additionally, he has Pacers ties from his college days. He spent the 2016-17 season playing with 2017 Pacers draftees Ike Anigbogu and TJ Leaf.

Holiday filled up the stat sheet this past season in California. He averaged 21.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. Most importantly, he did all that while shooting efficiently. He shot 46.1 percent from the field overall while canning 42.9 percent of his three-pointers and 82.8 percent of his free throws. He could quite simply put the ball in the net.

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Another important thing Holiday did is that he made the all-defense team for the Pac-12, showcasing the effort he puts in on the defensive end of the floor. His 1.3 steals per game he snagged back that up.

But you don’t need to listen to me, listen to the experts over at Fan Rag, where Zach Harper gave the Pacers an A+:

”

If we’re not counting Luka Doncic as a point guard, I had Aaron Holiday as the best point guard in the draft. Better than Trae Young, Collin Sexton, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It isn’t a knock on those three guys, but Holiday’s skill set is made for the NBA game.

It isn’t just the pedigree of his two older brothers, either. Holiday can shoot the ball, was a great high-volume scorer at UCLA, and he’ll compete defensively. His size holds him back a little, but the Pacers need a point guard after this season. Great value here.”

Next: Will Myles Turner show no mercy on the children again at his basketball camp?

Aaron Holiday could be a great pick for the Pacers. He has the potential to be a contributor night in and night out who can create baskets when Oladipo is on the bench. We will have to wait and see what he can bring once he hits the court.

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