Back then, the Milwaukee Bucks might have thought that veteran guard Jrue Holiday wouldn’t be able to produce ably on the court anymore by swapping him for All-Star guard Damian Lillard. Turns out, the franchise was wrong and he’s now playing the best basketball of his life again for the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
In the 2009 NBA draft, Jrue Holiday was selected as the 17th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. However, in 2013, he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in a deal that involved Nerlens Noel and the Pelicans’ 2014 first-round draft pick.
Fast forward to 2020, Holiday found himself being traded once again, this time to the Milwaukee Bucks in a complex four-team trade that included the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. As part of the trade, the Pelicans received Eric Bledsoe, Steven Adams, and future draft compensation. His addition to the team was the final piece that helped All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo win his first ring in the league.
Then, in 2023, Holiday’s journey continued as he became a key piece in a three-team trade. Alongside Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, and a 2029 first-round draft pick, the veteran guard was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. In exchange, the Bucks acquired Lillard, while the Phoenix Suns received Grayson Allen, Jusuf Nurkić, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson. However, just four days later, he was once again on the move, this time to the Boston Celtics. The trade involved Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon, and two future first-round draft picks.
Kendrick Perkins Names Former Bucks Guard Jrue Holiday as Boston Celtics’ Real Hero in NBA Finals
Two games into the NBA Finals between Jayson Tatum’s Celtics and Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks, and Holiday has once again emerged as the difference-maker for the former. NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins agreed with this thought in a tweet he shared on X.
“Jrue Holiday was the missing piece for the Bucks and now he’s doing the same thing for Celtics. He has been the best player on both ends of the floor tonight. That’s why the Celtics paid him the big bucks,” Perkins tweeted.
Over the course of 16 playoffs games so far, the one-time NBA champion is averaging 13.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per contest. He has also been instrumental in sweeping Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers during the Eastern Conference Finals.
Boston’s dream of winning another ring is more possible with the former Bucks guard around. And with the way Holiday has been playing, that seems more likely in the coming days.
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