Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday told NBA reporters that he’s not dealing with nerve issues in his injured shoulder.
Holiday has a right shoulder injury.
It’s unknown when Holiday will return to the Celtics’ lineup. Since Boston has the best record in the NBA, the team can play it safe with Holiday.
One of the top two-way players in the NBA, Holiday helped the Bucks win the 2021 championship over the Phoenix Suns in six games. The Celtics lost the 2022 Finals to the Golden State Warriors in six games. The team is optimistic that Holiday is the missing piece to a title.
Holiday is averaging 12.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks this season while shooting 48.5% from the field, 44.5% from beyond the arc and 83.3% from the free-throw line.
During the first episode of his podcast with former NBA guard JJ Redick, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James said the Celtics got Holiday for “a bag of lays potato chips.” The Milwaukee Bucks traded Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers in the blockbuster Damian Lillard trade.
The Blazers then traded Holiday to the Celtics for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams and draft picks.
Holiday and Chauncey Billups spoke to NBA reporter Jared Weiss of The Athletic about their conversation after the Bucks traded Holiday to the Blazers. Billups, the head coach in Portland, supported Holiday’s wish to not play for the Blazers and join a winning team.
“It meant a lot,” Holiday told The Athletic. “Being able to see a coach that has my best interests (in mind). And you could see it and you could hear it, which a lot of times maybe some players don’t get a chance to see that from a coach. So he definitely had my best interest (at heart) from the beginning. And he just always looked out for me.”
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