Jrue Holiday and Chauncey Billups spoke to NBA reporter Jared Weiss of The Athletic about their conversation after the Milwaukee Bucks traded Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Billups 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.”
The Blazers traded Holiday to the Boston Celtics, who have the top record in the NBA.
Billups and Holiday had a great conversation during the time Holiday was officially a member of the Blazers.
“I had a great conversation with him,” Billups said. “I did. I love Jrue, man. I love Jrue. And we got him very briefly obviously. And I had a conversation — a long, good conversation with him — just about I know it was a little tough spot for him, being traded, kind of being blindsided by that. I’ve been there before. So just being able to rap with him like that because I know him. And it was important for me that a good person like him, who’s been great on every team and every community that he’s lived in, for him to be treated properly and be put in a great position and a great spot.”
Holiday is averaging 12.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Celtics while shooting 48.5% from the field, 44.6% from beyond the arc and 82.9% from the free-throw line.
The Celtics are 50-14, while the Blazers are 18-46.
“Just him being real with me,” Holiday said. “Obviously because he’s been through just a lot. Being a Hall of Famer, being a winner, a champion, being a point guard. Him just being super honest with me and speaking from experience.”
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