Ron Holland, Roman Reigns, and The Big Picture | The Prospect Overview
Ron Holland, Roman Reigns, and The Big Picture | The Prospect Overview
G League Ignite prospect Ron Holland may be off to a slow start, but that's nothing to fear. A full breakdown of Holland's game, and why it's best to remain optimistic! PLUS: Quick Hits and MMGOTW!
Feature: Ron Holland, Roman Reigns, and The Big Picture
Part 1: A Rough Night in Philadelphia
My first two loves were basketball and professional wrestling. They’re very different entities—one is a sport, and one is a dramatized presentation loosely based on a sport. But even when it comes to evaluation prospects in basketball, I think it’s important to consider the case of WWE’s Roman Reigns.
Reigns’s real name is Leati Joseph Anoa’i. The Anoa’i name carries considerable weight in the wrestling business—they’re something of a royal family in the industry. Wrestlers such as The Rock, Rikishi, Yokozuna, Umaga, and The Uso’s are part of that expansive family tree. While those men were tremendously successful in the wrestling business and the Anoa’i name certainly wouldn’t hurt Reigns, it’s not exactly a guaranteed meal ticket. Several members of the family have had unmemorable and disappointing careers. But from the jump, it was evident Reigns was unlikely to fall into that camp.
First off, he came into the business as a legitimately great athlete. Reigns played defensive tackle at Georgia Tech, where he started for three seasons. In 2006, he earned All-ACC First Team honors. While he wouldn’t have a noteworthy NFL career, he did manage to sign contracts with the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars. Second, Reigns had an outstanding physical appearance. He shed the unnecessary poundage required by the sport of football, but still stood 6’3” with a hulking frame. He’s conventionally attractive, boasting a chiseled jawline and piercing eyes. And lastly, he had that Anoa’i lineage. A former football player with a handsome look and the Anoa’i name? Those three features are part of what helped make The Rock one of the biggest celebrities in the world. It’s easy to see why the people at WWE were tripping all over themselves to make a star out of Roman Reigns.
After a stint in WWE’s developmental program, Reigns was immediately presented as an important character on their television shows. He was a member of a faction called The Shield, a rogue unit comprised of Reigns, Dean Ambrose (now AEW’s Jon Moxley), and Seth Rollins. Their eye-capturing presentation saw them wear bullet proof vests and tactical gear. They entered through the crowd as opposed to coming down the entrance ramp, which immediately differentiated them from the rest of the roster. In the ring, they all had different styles. Rollins was a high-flier, Ambrose a rugged brawler, and Reigns a menacing powerhouse. Still, they complimented each other exceptionally well. Despite being portrayed as villains, the crowd was always excited to see them. The group, and Reigns in particular, were presented as high-end talents who rarely lost.
When WWE eventually broke up The Shield, the plan was obvious to viewers at home—they were going to make Roman Reigns the top “good guy” star in the company as a singles act. This…did not go as planned. They tried to have Reigns invoke The Rock, making jokes and poking fun at his adversaries. Infamously, he used the phrase, “sufferin’ succotash” to what can politely be described as a tepid response. Reigns wasn’t The Rock. He wasn’t as cool as The Rock and he wasn’t as funny as The Rock. Fans weren’t buying what he was selling.
WWE thought they had a workaround. They would have Reigns win 2015’s Royal Rumble, a match that guarantees the winners a main-event championship match at Wrestlemania. After the match, they would bring out The Rock himself. He would raise Reigns’s arm, giving him a critical endorsement, and finally getting the fans fully on his side. This was disastrous for a few reasons. First, the crowd badly wanted Daniel Bryan, a scrappy, undersized underdog to win the match. As soon as he was eliminated, the crowd wasn’t going to be satisfied with whatever the result was. Second, having The Rock come out almost felt like a slap in the face. It was as if WWE knew fans would be disappointed in the result, but they did it anyway and made expensive, elaborate plans to make the fans slightly less disappointed. They chose this path instead of the obvious alternative, which was simply giving the paying audience what they wanted. Third, this event was held in Philadelphia, a city known for having ravenous fans in general, but perhaps even more so within the specific niche of pro wrestling. Lastly, even The Rock seemed to realize this was a bad idea. He made a comical, “you guys don’t seem to like this guy, huh?” face while raising Reigns’s hand as the crowd ravenously booed him.
Roman Reigns was supposed to be THE GUY. Now, some critics wondered if he could ever put it together.
Part Two: A Rough Night in Salt Lake City
Coming into this draft cycle, Ron Holland had a substantial amount of hype. The 18-year-old from Duncanville, Texas brought a lot to the table that NBA front offices desire. He’s 6’8” with a wingspan in the seven-foot range. Holland moves well in every sense. He could sky for block and dunks off one foot. Regardless of who put him to the test laterally, it felt like he had the footspeed to stay in front. In transition, his end-to-end burst couldn’t be matched by his peers. His motor didn’t shut off, either. Holland seemed to be one of the hardest-playing dudes on the court at all times. For these reasons, it wasn’t an uncommon sight to see him in the number one spot on pre-season boards and mock drafts.
Holland is competing for the G League Ignite this season. The prep-to-pro adjustment is generally a challenging one, historically speaking. This year’s Ignite players face a particularly stacked deck. Never has the squad had fewer veterans, and never have they had more draft-eligible prospects. It’s one thing to go from playing high schoolers to competing against pros, but it’s another thing to do that while flanked by a bunch of dudes also going through that same transition. The result has been some difficult nights for Holland. Through his first eight games with Ignite, including exhibitions and international play, here are the numbers:
13.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.8 APG, 3.5 TOV, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG
40.2/19.2/65.0
In a November 13th game against the Salt Lake City Stars, Holland had his 2015 Royal Rumble moment. The Ignite lost 158-99. He scored nine points on 12 shots. Perhaps worst of all, Holland turned the ball over 11 times. He got sped up with the ball and felt out of control at times. His handle needs a lot of work, and too often, the ball is in front of him for the defender to poke loose. His spatial awareness and anticipation of help defenders can be poor, and he’s rarely ready for swipes coming from an off-ball defender. Against more seasoned competitors, these flaws were put on full display.
Ron Holland had a chance to come out of the gates hot and cement himself as THE GUY in the 2024 draft class. The early returns haven’t been great. However, he still has a chance to be the guy! It’s only November. While questions remain about his game, I wouldn’t be so quick to write him off.
Part Three: The Turnaround!
In 2020, Roman Reigns made a change. Gone was the try-hard babyface act. In its place was a menacing, intense, cerebral character. Reigns was equal parts calculated, vicious, and egotistical. Even other members of the Anoa’i family felt his wrath, as he laid prolonged beatdowns on his cousin, Jey Uso. He adopted the persona of “The Tribal Chief,” and demanded that he be acknowledged as “The Head of the Table” by the rest of his family, including his elders. His promos (wrestling term for speeches or monologues) went from being cringeworthy to genuinely captivating. In 2021, Reigns was given the Best Gimmick Award by voters of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Sports Illustrated named him Wrestler of the Year. Not only has the act been critically successful, but it’s also worked out commercially. Attendance and television ratings, which had long been in decline for WWE, began to see improvement with Reigns’s heel persona as a headlining act.
When WWE tried to make Roman Reigns the focal point of the company in 2015, he wasn’t ready yet. He looked overwhelmed, and the output of his work left a lot to be desired. But the framework was always there. He was still a high-level, believable athlete, he still had the look of a megastar, and he still had the lineage of an important family in the history of the wrestling business. Looking at the bigger picture, those things never went away. Regardless of the medium, there are certain prospects who simply possess traits that others don’t. It may take them time or the right fit to best actualize those gifts. Sometimes, they might not put it all together. But there’s always a possibility that they could, and if they do, the return on investment can be spectacular. And that’s why even despite a slow start, it’s best to remain in on Ron Holland.
Part Four: Point A.
Barring catastrophe, Ron Holland will always be taller, longer, more vertically explosive, faster, and more agile than most of his peers. Simply based on his physical traits, motor, and understanding of the game, he should be able to hang around the NBA for quite a while. But there’s reason for greater optimism. Sure, Holland is going to have some tough outings as he scales up in competition. He’ll also be excessively overburdened in comparison to his likely initial NBA role, especially when Ignite are missing other potential playmakers like London Johnson and Matas Buzelis. There will be rough nights like the one in Salt Lake City, but like with Roman Reigns, we need to remember the bigger picture. And when zooming out, it’s important to appreciate the flashes. This is his Point A.
A big question coming into the year was how consistent Holland could be as an outside shooter. While he hasn’t put that question to bed by any stretch, his best moments are intriguing, and he’s not short on confidence. When teams give him space from beyond the arc, he’s pulling the trigger, whether it’s off the catch or off the dribble. There’s some work to do mechanically, particularly because he can look different from attempt to attempt. On his worst shots, his base is narrow, his feet aren’t squared toward the basket, and it’s a “knees, then everything else” motion with a wonky energy transfer.
But again—Holland is 18 years old, and assertiveness is going to be half the battle. Commanding gravity will be important for him to draw better closeouts and open up his downhill attacking game. And as a leading option, few of his looks have been truly clean, wide-open shots. The context he’s playing in won’t lead to many of those, so the important thing to monitor will be a continued willingness to shoot and mechanical improvements. So far, I’m encouraged.
Where Holland has had the most success is around the basket. First off, he’s getting to the cup well in the halfcourt, taking 36.7% of his shots there. That’s a greater clip than Jonathan Kuminga and MarJon Beauchamp generated during their seasons with Ignite. He’s finishing efficiently, too, converting 59.1% of his shots in that area of the floor. Despite Holland’s limitations as a ball handler, he still has the first step, slipperiness, and toughness to get to the rack. While skinny, Holland doesn’t mind meeting another body at the bucket, and his touch carries him across the finish line even after he gets bumped. The fact that he’s immediately having success here is great to see. As he gets older and puts on some size, he’s only going to become a more potent downhill threat.
While I harped on the turnovers earlier, I also believe Holland has some genuine upside as a passer. When he lets the game come to him, he can make good, even clever decisions with the ball. At his best, he’s able to slow things down and remain composed while still making a decision in a timely enough manner that his team ultimately beats the defense. As an attacker, he can be too focused and premediated on which counter or scoring move he’s looking for, ignoring his surroundings. But when Holland keeps his head up, he can make a more advanced read, like the Nash dribble into a spray out for a three-pointer in the video above. On the perimeter, he can skip it to the next man in a hurry or catch the defense off-balance with an unanticipated reversal. I expect that we’ll see increased actualization of these skills as the season progresses.
On defense, Holland has some exciting moments. He’s great at using his length, whether it’s to get his fingertips on a pass or poke the ball loose from an unsuspecting ball handler. When he’s determined to lock in and stay in front, especially in isolation, opponents have a whale of a time getting around him. He elevates easily from a slide, which gives him extra punch as a shot blocker. Still, he’s not without his warts. He has a bizarre tendency to play too far off of the ball handler. Maybe it’s a physicality thing that will change as he puts on size. That’s my guess, as he also struggles against screens. But right now, he gives opponents a lot of room, which leads to him getting beat or allowing ball-handlers to get to advantageous spots on the court. Often, he can be too narrow and “hands on” as opposed to staying long. These things have to improve. But again, his quickness, pop, and length aren’t an easy combination to find.
Part Five: The Basketball Example
I get it if you’re not here for the wrestling stuff, so I thought back to a basketball player positionally similar to Ron Holland—Andrew Wiggins. Digging through the DraftExpress archives, I found an article on Wiggins. In it, he was described as having, “everything you could hope for in a wing prospect physically, as he sports excellent size (6-8 in shoes) and length (7-0 wingspan), and is an elite athlete.” Later, Mike Schmitz noted that Wiggins was “very much an unrefined offensive player,” and that, “He's for the most part a straight-line ball-handler, as the ball slows him down and doesn't do a great job changing speeds or directions, particularly with his off hand, but is capable of getting inside the paint effectively regardless thanks to his exceptionally quick first step.” Sound familiar?
There are differences, certainly. Wiggins was a more efficient three-point and free-throw shooter than Holland at the same phase of their careers, and he had a cleaner stroke from a mechanical standpoint. Conversely, while Wiggins was knocked for his passivity, Holland is the opposite. Wiggins was often too laid back in his approach, whereas Holland would benefit from slowing himself down. Though no two players are the same, some of the similarities are almost eerie.
Wiggins had his struggles adapting to the NBA out of the gate. His jumper took a while to come along, both in terms of willingness and percentage. Defensively, he could leave something to be desired in terms of effort and consistency. But when he got to Golden State, things started to click. When he moved to a more complimentary role, the bigger picture tools that others can’t attain began to pop and bring value. Wiggins took threes off the catch more often as his percentage improved in his new role, his defensive engagement rounded into form, and in the playoffs, Wiggins competed harder than ever on the glass. He made an All-Star team and was a crucial part of Golden State’s championship-winning team during the 2021-2022 season. It took a while, but when everything clicked, the return for the Warriors was worth everything they gave up for him and then some. When teams win on these bets, they win big.
Conclusion
I understand why anyone making a big board may have reservations about Ron Holland after his slow start to the season. But I think he’s going to be a critical “zoom out prospect” throughout this cycle. His flaws should be contextualized, and the poorly constructed roster around him should be taken into account. Similar to Leonard Miller last season, I think it will be important to contrast Ron Holland’s Point A to his Point B. How Holland adapts to his struggles and changes in response will be telling. But digging into the film, it’s not all doom and gloom, and getting tied up in what isn’t going right feels like a recipe for disaster.
Time and again, we’ve seen the game slow down for players as they adjust to a new level of competition. There are already glimmers where it happens for Holland. Once he’s acclimated, there’s a chance he demonstrates more pace with his dribble, shows off more of his trickiness as a passer, and gets his jump shot mechanics more consistent. Plus, Holland is one of the youngest players in this draft class. While he may have his issues, it’s important not to lose sight of the big picture. Much like Roman Reigns, Ron Holland has things that can’t be taught. It may take him a while to figure it all out, but if he does, the return on investment will be tremendous for whichever team drafts him. For that reason, I don’t see myself moving him outside my top three just yet.
Mid-Major Game of the Week
This week’s Mid-Major Game of the Week was Belmont vs. Penn! For the second straight week, the MMGOTW went into overtime! Ultimately, the Belmont Bruins came out on top, 84-79.
I believe a big part of this game winning the poll was the interest in Belmont’s Cade Tyson. The brother of recent Denver Nuggets draft pick Hunter Tyson, Cade is a 6’7” knockdown shooter who I covered during my No Stone Unturned series. After a slow first half, he ended the game with 26 points on 19 shots. There was a play he made in this game that was emblematic of who he is as a prospect—he came off a curl to the corner, pump faked to send a defender flying, then did a side-step dribble into a nothing-but-net three. His shooting touch is top of the line. When he gets even a small amount of space from NBA distance, he feels automatic. At the basket, he can still convert after getting bumped. Even if you force him into the mid-range or floater range, he’s still efficient. There’s nowhere he can’t score the ball. I still have real reservations about him defensively. He struggles to contain the ball and can be a step behind the play. He’s made improvements to his other “problem area” of connective playmaking, though. He’s swinging it faster, and he made a really sharp read from the elbow to a cutter that felt like something he never would have done a year ago.
Tyson could face a surprisingly difficult predicament at the end of this season. Sure, his athleticism leaves a lot to be desired, and a poor outing against Arizona a week ago won’t help that perception. But he could be on pace to have a Sam Hauser-esque career shooting resume. Hauser was quicker and nimbler, but in a draft perceived to be weaker, Tyson could sneak into the conversation sooner than you might think. I think patience will be the best approach for him long term, and that’s fine. He’s an outstanding shooter, and the complementary stuff is rounding into form beautifully.
Don’t sleep on Malik Dia, either. The 6’9” Vanderbilt transfer was terrific in the Arizona game, and he had another strong one against Penn, posting 27 points, eight rebounds, and three steals off the bench. He’s got a bit of a handle to him, and he has some pace to his attacks. His strength and length help him finish plays on offense and make them on defense. His jumper remains a question, as it’s an odd set shot and he’s a poor free throw shooter. Still, he went 3-for-5 from distance in this one, including a clutch shot toward the end of regulation. I also like Ja’Kobi Gillespie more than most 6’0” guards. He’s shifty, a clever passer, quick into passing lanes, and has enticing flashes from deep. He ended up with 16 points and three assists on the night. Gillespie also added two blocks, one as a helper and one on the ball. That type of vertical pop on defense gives him something others his size often don’t have.
On the Penn side, I was here for 6’4” freshman guard Tyler Perkins, and he didn’t disappoint. Like Tyson, he too started slow, but he ended up with 25 points on 10-23 shooting. Though he went 1-for-5 from long range, he’s a true three-level scorer with a pretty jumper. His attacking portfolio is diverse, as he can use his power to fight to the cup or use a funky, deceleration move with a Euro step to create a clean look. His strength is a key component of his game, and it’s a big selling point to me. He was actually put on Cade Tyson quite a bit in this match-up, and part of why I’m interested in Tyson is because he’s tough and physical. For a coach to trust a 6’4” freshman guard with that type of matchup speaks volumes about Perkins’ own toughness and physicality. Those traits show up on the glass, where he again showed out and cleaned up eight rebounds. He can still get too locked into scoring, but a heads-up transition pass from him in crunch time showed that there’s reason for optimism. I love Perkins as a longer-term NBA prospect.
Next week’s Mid-Major Game of the Week will be Dayton vs. SMU! Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter/X to vote in future polls to determine the Mid-Major Game of the Week!
Quick Hits
-I’m not sweating the “slow start” for Justin Edwards. In fact, I think he’s been solid. His shot still looks good off the catch, and I love how he decelerates into his pull up. Defensively, he’s playing hard on the glass, working to navigate screens, and staying in front well. Offensively, things still need to slow down for him, particularly with regard to which foot to attack on a closeout. But I’m liking the jumper, his defensive impact, and tools. I’m not selling any stock at this point.
-I continue to fall deeper in love with Donovan Clingan’s game. His ability to be a deterrent around the basket, his powerful finishing, and his ridiculous rim gravity are nothing new. But his excellent hands that allow him to snare the ball with one hand, improved angles as a screener, and growing feel as a passer are all wonderful new wrinkles to his game. He’s a top half of the lottery guy for me at this juncture.
-Almost a year ago, I wrote a feature about Oso Ighodaro. In it, I laid out chief my concern about his game—he doesn’t have the floor spacing ability to play the four, and he was too weak defensively to play the five. After Maui, I’m at least feeling much better about him defensively at the five spot. Against big bodies like Zach Edey and Adem Bona, Ighodaro held his own. He’s now listed at 235 pounds, and his newly added muscle is impossible to ignore. Last season, even skinnier, smaller college big men could get to their spots against him. Now, he doesn’t concede position as easily and he’s more explosive off the floor. These were crucial improvements. It’s great to see that he was both aware of the problem and did the work to address it. His poor free throw shooting and unwillingness to launch outside of twelve feet remains concerning, and his measurables may still be less than perfect for the center spot, but I’m much higher on him now than I was before.
-Another player who has started to win me over is Texas’s Dillon Mitchell. I’m always a bit gun-shy when it comes to complete non-shooters who don’t have center size. With Mitchell, I’m still not ready to pull the trigger, but he’s made real improvements. He’s seeing the floor better, he’s much more comfortable putting the ball on the deck, and he’s actually making plays on the defensive end at the clip he’ll need to in order to compensate for his lack of shooting. He’s 0-for-3 from deep through five games, which is still a serious problem. But Mitchell is on a much better path than he was a year ago.
-Quinn Ellis has been having a nice year in the EuroCup and Italy’s Lega A. The 6’4” lefty can pull up from deep or shoot it off the catch with minimal dip. He’s capable of converting off movement and he’s unfazed by a hand in his face. That type of difficulty makes his 43.2% from long range on the year even more impressive. His playmaking is nice, too, as he can sling it on the go and utilizes ball screens in different ways to consistently create advantages. He’s been climbing up my board.
-One of my favorite early-season deep cuts has been Portland’s Tyler Harris. At 6’8”, the freshman reminds me so much of Maxwell Lewis during his first college season. Sure, the bad parts can be ugly. Physicality can stop him in his tracks, he can feel a step behind the play defensively, and he’ll fall victim to tunnel vision. But the flashes are out of this world. His wiry frame and herky-jerky movements make him difficult to contain. He feels unpredictable in a good way, and that helps him get to the rim consistently. His body control is outstanding and he’s got great touch inside. He’s a confident outside shooter who can drain shots from deep with a hand in his face. His leaping ability is bonkers, which leads to him skying for rejections and turning away opponents behind the three-point line, which few wings are able to do. He’s going to be one of my favorite prospects to monitor going forward.
-Tennessee’s 6’11” junior, Jonas Aidoo, is intriguing to me as a four-year guy. His excellent lateral agility and ability to sky for lobs and blocks are great physical traits. From a skill standpoint, his ambidexterity around the basket and mid-range jumper make for an exciting combination. He’ll need to continue to add to his strength, but as a play finisher who can defend multiple positions, he’s firmly in the mix, especially if he can extend that range to three.
-Don’t lose track of Malique Lewis. The 6’8” prospect was taken by the Mexico City Capitanes in the G League International draft, and he’s had some exciting flashes. He makes snappy decisions, can put the ball on the floor, and he’s able to contort to finish at the basket. On defense, he’s able to stick with drivers and he has a high motor on the glass. While he’s only hit 23.5% of his threes, the shot looks natural and he’s comfortable moving into it. He has until 2026 enter the draft, but if he improves as the season continues, he could become an interesting option for teams picking in the second round.
-I’m generally anti-small guards, but Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey is making me say, “wait, hang on a second here.” The 6’1” Lipsey is stout, so he has the physical strength required of the NBA. The next box small guards need to check is defense, and folks, Lipsey is a dog. He’s competitive and his hands are fiesty, which are why he’s averaging just a hair under three steals per game so far this season. A small guard also needs to be able to make plays, and Lipsey does that too. He’s determined to get into hte paint and will put real pressure on the rim. His dump off passes and pocket passes are slick, and he knows how to use his head and eyes to set up his feeds. Plus, his slippery speed and footwork make him tough to contain. Add in his real-deal spring off one foot, and he can finish from further away than most his size. Lastly, small guards need to shoot, and Lipsey is making huge strides there. He took less than one triple a game last year and made only 20% of them. Now, he’s quadrupled his volume and he’s hitting 42.1% of his threes. If Lipsey continues down this path, he’ll have a real NBA case to make.