Future Starts Now

Beyond the Hardwood: Ron Holland ignites in NBA G League

Ron Holland, a projected lottery pick in 2024, is making his mark with the G League Ignite this season.

Luke Akinsola, for NBA.com

Ron Holland’s explosive game has continued to improve throughout this season with the G League Ignite.

It was a 4th of July footrace in the Oak Cliff neighborhood near Dallas that reminded G League Ignite forward Ron Holland of his roots.

“My uncles took off and they won,” Holland said with a smirk. Jovial discord turned into an intense debate that summer evening — all to see who was the fastest person in the Holland family.

“They rubbed it in my face, and that showed me how competitive of a family I come from,” Holland said. “I didn’t like the feeling of losing — it showed me how fiery I am … and that just came from racing in the street.”

Years later, Holland is reaping the rewards of channeling his focus and competitive nature towards holistic improvement. Slated as the No. 6 pick in Jonathan Wasserman’s latest Mock Draft, Holland has cultivated a reputation for being a high-motor impact wing that makes a difference on both ends of the floor.

A consensus blue-chipper coming out of Duncanville High School in Texas, Holland’s accolades are already extensive:  two gold medals playing for Team USA’s amateur teams during FIBA competition, multiple 6A state championship trophies, a participant in both 2023 McDonald’s All-American and Nike Hoops Summit games, and the 2022-23 Gatorade Texas boys basketball player of the year.

After decommitting from Texas in the spring, the 18-year-old was focused on making a jump that would most prepare him to be a pro in all aspects.

“I came to Ignite not only for skill work … I came here to learn how to be a pro on and off the court,” Holland said. “This program is about growing yourself and you have to deal with the adversity that comes with it.”

Igniting improvement

G League competition has improved significantly over the years, largely due to a third two-way contract that teams can offer to develop or reserve players. As a result, organizations can assign more players to the G League while also increasing the money pool.

For the Ignite, the lack of professional experience — especially against older competition — and injuries have been triggers for turbulence this season.

A 4-10 overall record highlighted by a 59-point blowout from the Salt Lake City Stars back in November was an early cause for concern. Even as a high-volume offensive player, Holland had a game-high 10 turnovers in the loss.

As the Ignite has gotten healthier throughout their young season, Holland and company are starting to find their rhythm, going 4-2 since fellow projected lottery pick Matas Buzelis returned to the lineup on Dec. 2. Holland is averaging 19.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game this season and his teammates point to his mentality as a pillar for him turning his season around.

“He’s a dog,” said Norris Cole, a former two-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat and a current Ignite reserve.

“Playing hard and having a motor is a skill and I’d say that’s his top skill. He could be a potential max player because of how hard he plays and works.”

Stepping up as a leader

Many would perhaps consider Holland a happy-go-lucky teenager, someone with a genuine heart who loves to joke around and be with the people he cares for. His sense of humor also bodes well for rallying his teammates together, as Holland has emerged as the Ignite’s undisputed leader this season.

“My number one strength is my leadership,” Holland said. “I’m really just able to control the team and the game. I know how to talk to every single one of my teammates and that comes with being a leader.”

Communicating well and curating his schedule are two ways that Holland has matured since joining the Ignite. Between individual morning workouts, team practice, weights, and evening shooting, basketball dominates Holland’s day.

Recovering well, specifically by meditating, is a main priority that Holland credits the Ignite staff for helping him cultivate a space to recover – physically and mentally.

“That’s another part of this program that they’re teaching me,” Holland said. “They’re teaching me how to be a pro on the recovery side. You can push yourself to exhaustion every single day but you’re going to have to learn to recover and get your mind and body physically and mentally right for you to keep doing that.”

A promising future for Holland

The G League Ignite could see four players selected in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Current Ignite players-turned-NBA players — such as Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Scoot Henderson — have paved the way for Ignite talent like Holland to be dreaming of the NBA next.

Cole firmly believes Holland will follow in these players’ footsteps, largely due to his passion, work ethic, and athleticism. While Holland has drawn comparisons to NBA legend Shawn Marion and Brooklyn Nets star Mikal Bridges, Cole connects his potential NBA trajectory to a similar Miami stud.

“He’ll do whatever a team asks him to do,” Cole said. “Remember, when Jimmy Butler came into the league, he was a high-motor, defensive athlete. He developed offensively and now he’s a two-way star. If he gets drafted in the right fit, he’ll be one of those high-level max [contract] players.”

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