Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame
Holden, Jon Robert
Jon Robert Holden
- Induction:
- 2008
- Class:
- 1998
Sport: Basketball
J.R. Holden has gained fame in his postgraduate years for his heroic exploits with CSKA Moscow and the Russian National Team, particularly after he hit the game-winning shot in the championship game of the 2007 European Championship, giving Russia a spot in the 2008 Olympics. But his Bucknell career was also noteworthy, as he transformed from a lightly recruited guard into a two-time First Team All-Patriot League selection. A two-time team MVP, Holden scored 1,327 career points, which ranked ninth in program history when he graduated. At the time, he was one of only three players in school history with 1,000 points and 300 assists. His best year came as a senior, when he led the team in 11 statistical categories, including scoring (18.2), assists (4.1) and steals (1.5), and he led the Patriot League in assists and ranked second in scoring that year. As a junior, Holden led the Bison to the Patriot League championship game, where they lost by one point to Navy on the Mids' home floor. Holden also helped his team to significant upset victories over Princeton and Alabama during his career, and he went on to win the Christy Mathewson Award. After graduation, he played professionally in Latvia, Belgium, Greece and Russia. He became a naturalized Russian citizen, allowing him to play for the national team. He became Bucknell's fourth Olympian when he took the floor in Beijing in August 2008. After retiring as a player, Holden went to work as an NBA scout.
(Bucknell Hall of Fame Class of 2008)
J.R. Holden has gained fame in his postgraduate years for his heroic exploits with CSKA Moscow and the Russian National Team, particularly after he hit the game-winning shot in the championship game of the 2007 European Championship, giving Russia a spot in the 2008 Olympics. But his Bucknell career was also noteworthy, as he transformed from a lightly recruited guard into a two-time First Team All-Patriot League selection. A two-time team MVP, Holden scored 1,327 career points, which ranked ninth in program history when he graduated. At the time, he was one of only three players in school history with 1,000 points and 300 assists. His best year came as a senior, when he led the team in 11 statistical categories, including scoring (18.2), assists (4.1) and steals (1.5), and he led the Patriot League in assists and ranked second in scoring that year. As a junior, Holden led the Bison to the Patriot League championship game, where they lost by one point to Navy on the Mids' home floor. Holden also helped his team to significant upset victories over Princeton and Alabama during his career, and he went on to win the Christy Mathewson Award. After graduation, he played professionally in Latvia, Belgium, Greece and Russia. He became a naturalized Russian citizen, allowing him to play for the national team. He became Bucknell's fourth Olympian when he took the floor in Beijing in August 2008. After retiring as a player, Holden went to work as an NBA scout.
(Bucknell Hall of Fame Class of 2008)
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