Jrue Holiday jokes about beating Charles Lee

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday. Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Jrue Holiday jokes about beating departing Celtics assistant who just landed Hornets job

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 5/11/24

Boston Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee has agreed on a deal to become the Charlotte Hornets' next head coach. Lee has spent the past 10 seasons working as an assistant for the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks and most recently, the Celtics. In recent years, he has been interviewed for head-coaching gigs with the Detroit Pistons, Bucks, Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors.

When speaking to the media as part of his post-practice news conference, Celtics guard Jrue Holiday, who also worked with Lee in Milwaukee, shared his thoughts on Lee's new job opportunity.

“I was really happy,” Holiday said. “Sad to see him go but extremely happy. He deserves it and been with him for a minute now. To see him as a head coach and to beat him every time we play him, it’s going to be great...obviously we’ve been through a lot together, so to see even before when there was kind of a chance for him to be a head coach and him not get it. But to see it now and I think the timing might be right. You’re just happy for your guy.”

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed that Lee will remain with the Celtics until the end of their postseason run.

Charles Lee – who reunites with Hornets EVP of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson – will finish the Celtics’ playoff run before moving full-time into the Hornets’ job, sources said. He was part of the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks championship under Mike Budenholzer. https://t.co/OJbN13izSr
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 9, 2024

With Lee still on the sidelines, he and Holiday will have a chance to win a second championship together. They were both part of the Milwaukee team that hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy in 2021. With the Celtics competing in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, both still have a chance to end their time together with a second championship ring.

Lee will be moving into a favorable first job with Charlotte. There will be little pressure to contend in his first few years at the helm. He will also inherit a young team with its two franchise cornerstones — LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller — already in place.

When the Celtics and Hornets face off next season, Holiday's comments may work as a subplot. Fans of both teams are eager to see if Charlotte can sneak a win against Boston and prove Holiday wrong. Either way, the veteran guard will undoubtedly be happy for his friend.

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