CJ Holmes’ rise from Auburn basketball walk-on to beat writer for the Golden State Warriors is the stuff of hoop dreams

By CJ Holmes ’16

My skills on the court were limited. My coaches and teammates knew that. But I loved basketball, and figured coaching would be the best way I could stay around the game that shaped my childhood.

My stepfather, Willie Henderson, is the reason I picked up a basketball in the first place. I was around 11 or 12 years old when I played in my first recreation league game. I hated sports at first. My mom probably would’ve described a younger me as lazy. But my stepdad was persistent, and the concept of competition grew on me over time.

By the time I got to middle school, I was the kid who could recall random sports facts and stats during recess. If I wasn’t reading comic books or playing video games, my television was on ESPN. I’d watch the same segments over and over until they were ingrained in my mind. I never missed a Wizards or Commanders game. Sometimes during class, my teachers would catch me drawing up random basketball and football plays in the back of my agenda instead of paying attention to the lesson. What started as an excuse to get off the couch became an obsession.

Barto had a hand in training all of us, but his focus was on the pros. Jimmy Butler, whose Miami Heat team is playing in the 2023 NBA Finals right now, was even one of his pupils when he was coming out of Marquette. During the springs, when the pros started rolling up to campus to train for the NBA Draft, I would stay after practice and help Barto work out the guys. I also spent countless hours back in Barto’s office watching film on Synergy, trying to learn as much about the game as I could.

Toward the end of my senior year at IMG, when I knew Auburn would be my next stop as a walk-on, I still had to fill out a formal college application. I remember sitting in Walden’s office and pausing when I saw the box that asked me what I wanted to major in. I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life if coaching didn’t work out.

Math wasn’t my thing. History bored me. Science was cool, but doing anything relevant in that field would require an advanced understanding of math, so I knew that wasn’t an option. I had always excelled in English, reading and writing. And after Walden gave me a book to read titled “Don’t Put Me In Coach” by Mark Titus, I decided to combine my love for sports with my interest in writing and major in journalism.

The biggest adjustment going from digital to print as a writer was the volume. At The Athletic I wrote once every few days. At The Chronicle I found myself writing multiple stories a day, each day, on top of travel and breaking news. At The Athletic I had more time to craft my stories, but the daily print news cycle required a different level of speed. Over time things got easier, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a major challenge my first few months on the job. However, starting an NBA beat and immediately getting an opportunity to cover the NBA Finals made it all worthwhile.

My experiences playing college basketball have served me well in my professional endeavors. For example, Gary Payton II and Chris Chiozza were on the Warriors’ roster when I started the job, and my Auburn teams played against them. Not every reporter can break the ice that way, and I’ve connected with others in the locker room because I know what it’s like to be in their shoes on some level. Covering the NBA is all about relationships. My experiences in basketball–both as a college player and reporter–helped me build relationships across the league, and I have done my best to take advantage of them.

I’ve been in pretty much every basketball arena across the SEC, and it has been such a joy getting to do the same in the NBA. Each city has a different feel. Each fanbase has different quirks. And despite the struggles the Warriors experienced this season—at least by their standards—getting to watch future hall of famers Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green compete each night has been a privilege. The Warriors’ organization, from head coach Steve Kerr to others in the front office, have treated me with the utmost respect. It’s made my job a lot easier, and I could not be more thankful.

During Golden State’s championship parade last summer, I got the chance to ride on Payton and James Wiseman’s float. Riding through downtown San Francisco with confetti floating through the streets was one of the coolest things I’ve ever been a part of. That’s when the gravity of the gift I’ve been given started to set in. I get to cover one of the best teams in the league, at arguably the highest level in the industry, and I did it all before turning 30.

My job is something I will never take for granted. And although I’m not sure what the future holds, I know I’m not done yet.