Jrue Holiday’s transition from being the main ball handler with the Milwaukee Bucks to taking a step back with the Boston Celtics behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown isn’t being talked about enough.
After his big performance in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, where he recorded 26 points, 3 assists, and 11 rebounds, Celtics star Jaylen Brown made a point to give credit to Holiday.
“Jrue (Holiday) has been an example of just excellence,” Brown said after Game 2. “Being here in a different role than what he was in the last couple of years at Milwaukee, he’s been able to adapt. There aren’t that many players who are able to be versatile or willing to do that.
Jrue came in, wasn’t on the ball as much, but still guarded every possession. He’s a hell of a player, a hell of a person, and I credit the victory to him.”
Looking for a second championship
Holiday’s 26 points were the second-most he has scored in any game this season. His season high is 28 points against the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. After being considered the most underrated player in the NBA for multiple years during his time with the Pelicans, Holiday is embracing his new role in Boston and is now looking to earn his second NBA championship.
The point guard won the 2022 NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks alongside Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo and was traded to the Celtics prior to the start of the 2023-24 season.
Celtics guard Derrick White also expressed his gratitude for Holiday joining the team this year and allowing him to grow.
“He could have easily come in and said, ‘I’m Jrue Holiday,’ and I would have been like, ‘You are Jrue Holiday, 100%.”
After being asked why he doesn’t consider himself a superstar despite leading the team in points, rebounds, assists, and shooting percentage in the NBA Finals, the 33-year-old stated that Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum deal with more pressure than he does.
“I’m here to win,” he said.
“The pressure that they (Brown and Tatum) have to execute and be great is a little bit different than my pressure.”
Holiday is averaging 13.5 points per game, along with 4.5 assists and 6.1 rebounds, during the Celtics' NBA Finals run and is looking to add a second championship to his illustrious career.
