While the Milwaukee Bucks added a major piece to their championship puzzle this summer by bringing in Damian Lillard, they also lost a pivotal part of their squad in Jrue Holiday. The Portland Trail Blazers slapped their ex-cornerstone superstar with a substantial price tag, and the Bucks had no other choice but to give up a massive haul in order to get their hands on the seven-time All-Star.
Sadly, Jrue Holiday had to be the sacrificial lamb.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Gets Brutally Honest on Jrue Holiday’s Milwaukee Bucks Exit
Giannis Antetokounmpo has already spoken out about losing Holiday as part of the blockbuster Dame deal. In a recent interview with Marc J. Spears of Adnscape, the Bucks talisman provided more insight on the process he’s had to go through as he bid farewell not only to a teammate but to a good friend as well:
“People just talk about basketball. But it’s not just about basketball,” Giannis said. “It’s about going to school and seeing him there, dropping his kids there and I’m dropping my kid there and talking about our kids and talking about life. It’s bigger than basketball, obviously. With Jrue, I won a championship and he’s the reason why now I’m a champion. And there were so many days he was sitting right next to me and we were talking before the game and we were about to play a big game, Game 5, Game 6, Game 7, and check on one another. ‘Hey, man, you good? How are you feeling today? I feel good. How are you feeling? Big fella, you’re good? Good. We’re going to get this one today. OK?’
“All those conversations were before you go to war, but that’s basketball. But there were conversations outside of basketball. Our families was very close. Our kids are very close. A guy with a great and positive energy every time he came to the practice facility or came to the arena. He had something about him that allowed you, when you were next to him, to feel good about yourself. I’m definitely going to miss it. And again, I wish him the best in everything that he does. And you never know down the road, you still might be teammates again. I love him. I don’t love him as a basketball player. I love him as a brother.”
Giannis’ Emotional Message for Holiday
Despite the fact that Holiday has ended up with the Boston Celtics, who we all know are going to be Milwaukee’s biggest challenge in the East this coming season, Giannis wishes nothing but the best for Holiday. They may now be on opposing teams, but this does not change how Antetokounmpo feels about his brother one bit:
“I wish him and his wife and his kids and his extended family the best,” Giannis said. “They always took care of me and my family. They always were nice and kind to me. They gave everything they could for not just the Milwaukee Bucks organization, but the city, the community. And again, I wish him the best in the next chapter wow with the Boston Celtics — not against us; against everybody else. But it’s definitely bittersweet. But now you just got to look at today and look about how can we get better right now and tomorrow. Get ready for the season right now. Dame, I’m excited for him to be here and I’m excited to go to war with him every single day.”
As Giannis said, it’s always a possibility for them to be teammates again somewhere down the road. After all, if there’s one thing we’ve learned about the NBA through the years, it’s that nothing is impossible.
For now, though, we all look forward to these two battling on the court as opponents. You can be sure that the friendship and all the pleasantries will be set aside once they go to war.
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