Thanksgiving is a lifestyle for Avry Holmes
Former North Salem High hoopster still enjoying pro basketball
There have been some decided speed bumps along the way for Avry Holmes, but the 2012 graduate of North Salem High School is enjoying his life as a professional basketball player.
The 28-year-old Holmes, who split his college career between San Francisco and Clemson, has been making a comfortable living on the hardwood, despite dealing with an early rash of injuries, COVID, and a loss of a couple of close family members.
Holmes began professionally with an overseas contract in Greece upon college graduation, but quickly gave it up for a more promising shot closer to home. It was a great splash a short time later in 2017, when Avry was drafted 66th overall in the NBA’s G-League Draft—landing with the Santa Cruz Warriors, “farm team” for the Golden State Warriors. He averaged 2 ½ points per game in his season with the team.
After being traded in the G-League in 2018, Avry moved on to Mexico, where he was shut down after one game due to injury. Holmes had two knee injuries and a broken leg—and all the operations (three total) forced him to shut down for the entire 2018-19 season.
But all that set up the 6-1 Holmes for a stellar comeback south of the border, where he has dual citizenship. And Avry thrived. He appeared in Mexican Championship games the next two seasons, shut down only by COVID-19 in 2020, and a calf injury in 2021. But he averaged around 11-12 points per game and was a key part of both his teams’ championship runs. Add to that, Avry has found he still has the hops to dunk, which he has done more frequently and with great gusto.
This spring, Avry got a rare chance to play in South America, filling in for a team in Montevideo, the capital—where he averaged 18 points per game.
Mixed into it all, some personal issues the last 18 months. First, the loss of Avry’s sister, Brandi, in an automobile wreck—and shortly thereafter, the loss of his stepfather to cancer. Lots of family support time in Salem was involved. On a more positive note, Holmes and his fiancé, Kristina Shakes, have a little girl, with a son due in October.
Holmes spends his off-season in Miami, Florida. He has obtained his real estate license, and uses it (for now) to help out friends looking for homes in the area. An intriguing note on the basketball side—Avry has been invited Tuesdays and Thursdays to work out with a number of current NBA players (Andre Drummond, Victor Oladipo, James Johnson, Isaiah Thomas) in what is the coolest kind of pick-up game—a twice-weekly event that keep him on the NBA radar.
And in his mid-to-late twenties, Holmes feels he is in a great position to be a top-notch player.
“I have the skills set to be a starter, a bench player… anything. You gotta have a little luck to make it happen,” says Holmes, matter-of-factly.
He is open for anything, but Avry is headed back for Mexico and a possible slot on a G-League team. The NBA has extended its G-League teams into Latin America. He might also play for a national team in Mexico, due to his dual citizenship status.
With the best part of his pro basketball career in front of him, Avry Holmes remains thankful—for everything. His playing ability, the teams, and the people around him. For Holmes, the thanksgiving aspect of his life is how he keeps pushing forward.
Although he will be missing the 3 on 3 Hoopla competition in Salem this year, Avry still has a heart for Salem. He has plans to conduct events in the community in coming years, with emphasis on kids of all ages.
Well done, Holmes.