Team Context Shows Its Power in the NBA Through Richaun Holmes’ Career Arc
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Individual success in the NBA is often driven by where and how a player is used. Recent history with veteran center Richaun Holmes offers a clear example of how team situation can dramatically alter both performance and contract value.
Early Years as a Reserve
Selected 37th overall in the 2015 draft, Holmes spent his first four seasons coming off the bench for Philadelphia and Phoenix. At 6’9” and 235 pounds, he was considered undersized for a full-time center role and faced long-term questions about his ceiling.
Breakthrough in Sacramento
Holmes’ trajectory changed after signing a two-year, $10 million deal with Sacramento in the summer of 2019. Given a starting opportunity, he averaged 13.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 28.8 minutes, while shooting 64.1% from the field and 79.2% at the free-throw line over the next two seasons.
New Contract, New Challenges
The production earned Holmes a four-year, $47 million contract in 2021. He opened the 2021-22 season strongly but soon dealt with an injury and a child custody battle that led to personal-leave absences. During the same stretch, Sacramento traded Tyrese Haliburton for Domantas Sabonis, a move that sharply reduced Holmes’ role.
Reduced Minutes and Overseas Move
Unable to reclaim a steady rotation spot, Holmes spent the following seasons moving between NBA benches as a veteran backup. Now 32 years old, he signed with Greek club Panathinaikos this past summer after failing to secure a satisfactory NBA offer.
Why It Matters for Michael Porter Jr.
The Holmes case underscores how quickly a player’s value can shift when circumstances change—a dynamic that looms over any discussion of Michael Porter Jr. and potential trade suitors.
Source: Hoops Rumors
