For the 2nd time in 4 years, Jrue Holiday is an NBA champion. The defensive master balled out in closing Game 5 against the Mavs. His 15 points and 11 rebounds contributed graciously to the Cs’ record 18th title. The vet had been stellar throughout the NBA Finals, staying competent on both ends and spearheading the Boston side. After the win, he shared a heartfelt moment with the President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens, who was essentially the reason he landed in Boston after an uneasy breakup with Milwaukee.
“Thanks for bringing me here,” he told Stevens as they shared a hug. “There’s no greater feeling than this”. For context, we roll back a few months. In the offseason, Holiday was the centerpiece of the trade that welcomed Damian Lillard to Milwaukee. While it was good for the Deers, the Holiday family was heartbroken to be moving around and leaving the Bucks in the first place.
Lauren Holiday, Jrue’s wife, had shared her feelings with the fanbase. “Contrary to the cliche, it’s personal, meaning there are people’s lives that are affected. It’s never ‘just business.’ … Milwaukee was home.” She revealed how they had adopted the Milwaukee community and made efforts for its betterment. Moreover, she also meant what the city meant for their kids, who had begun education and were sharing classrooms with Holiday’s Bucks teammates’ children. All that for the defensive maestro to find out he was traded on a phone call without any prior conversations.
It was a tough time for the Holiday family, Jrue in particular. He had formed an unbreakable bond with the Bucks organization and considered everyone to be close. Several of his teammates, including the Greek Freak, expressed their sorrow at his departure. The Lillard trade has shipped him to Portland, a long way off a Championship. That’s when Steven’s genius plotted the plan to bring in a difference maker like Holiday on their team after trading for Kristaps Porzingis from Washington.
The rest is history.
He was inducted into the All-Defensive Second Team besides his backcourt mate, Derrick White. The duo formed a special rhythm on the court that was painful for their rivals. In the Finals, he only advanced his role further, proving his versatility and completeness as a championship-caliber player. The Bucks truly lost the trade. They might have received a superstar in Lillard, no doubt. But Holiday was the greatest thing that happened to them, proof in an instant championship in 2021. Maybe they pulled the trigger out of the urgency to satisfy Giannis Antetokounmpo a little too soon.
Jrue Holiday had a genuine case to be Finals MVP!
The Celtics’ dominant 2023-24 season saw a conclusion with Jaylen Brown rightfully lifting the Finals MVP. The explosive forward was breathtaking and ferocious, scoring 20+ in all but one game of the Finals. Additionally, he also showed off his crafty defense, efficiently guarding the likes of Kyrie Irving and PJ Washington. However, Holiday was indispensable in their victory.
For the six-time All-Defensive guard, all that matters is winning. However, he wound up having an instrumental role in the Celtics’ record triumph. The former Bucks guard filled in for vacant positions in times of struggle. When they needed a point-of-attack, he scored 26. When a stop was desperately needed, Holiday came up with a defensive play.
USA Today via Reuters
His impact on such possessions ultimately helped beat down the Dallas Mavericks. In the five games, Holiday averaged 14.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists. The recently turned 34-year-old provided the Cs with floor spacing, tenacious defense, and high-octane energy. He did just what was expected of him, make plays that win a championship! He has had that in his DNA since winning the title with the Bucks.
He simply replicated his efforts from the 2021 run and instilled the culture in the young Boston group. There are still three years left on his contract. And the Shamrocks don’t seem satisfied with just one title. Will Holiday prove to be the worst trade the Bucks ever made if he wins another title with the Celtics, their arch-conference rivals?
It will surely be up for consideration.
