IT IS TIME TO BOARD THE AARON HOLIDAY HYPE TRAIN!

Aaron Holiday has barely played this season for the Indiana Pacers. He is third on the depth chart for point guard and being a rookie he does not have a lot of pull to get into the lineup. But last night, against the Atlanta Hawks, when Victor Oladipo went out with a sore knee in the first quarter the Indiana fan base was introduced to the future.

Indiana Pacers Rookie Aaron Holiday Credit The Athletic

In the third quarter Holiday checked in for Darren Collison. The Pacers were trailing 65-67 after being down 14 earlier in the game. Holiday came in and immediately knocked down a three to take a 68-65 point lead. The shot is below.

A lead that would never be surrendered. Holiday continued to put on a show. He banged home 2 more threes ending the game 3-4 from beyond the arc and 4-6 from the field. He finished the game with 12 points 3 rebounds and 2 assists in only 15 minutes. He also played better defense than I was expecting him too. The kid has a lot of hustle. At the end of the game he went to block a shot in what was an all but decided game. It ended up being a goal-tend, but you cannot hate on the effort.

Now Holiday did have his problems. In the short time that he played he had 2 turnovers and 4 fouls. But last night, the good outweighed the bad for the young Holiday. He capped off a 24-6 run and gave the Pacers the 3 point basket that gave them the lead for good. He willed the Pacers to a 97-89 win with energetic play and efficient scoring in the 3rd and 4th quarter

I know in reality it is too early to say that Holiday is the next best future point guard in the NBA. This was only one game, but this is sports and knee-jerk reactions are allowed. I think we can safely assume though, that Holiday is the future for the Pacers. What I saw last night was something I have not seen in a Pacers point guard since the early 2000s and the potential of Jamaal Tinsley. This was an outstanding coming out party for Holiday. The future looks bright in Indy. All hail next Point God.