The Milwaukee Bucks made one of the best moves of the offseason by trading for Jrue Holiday, who wasn’t a good fit with the New Orleans Pelicans and was wasting his talents not playing for a championship contender.
That trade was so big that some people believe that it played a huge role in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s decision to sign his massive contract extension with the team, and thus far, it seems like he’s doing just fine with his new franchise.
That’s why, after yet another great performance – this time vs. the Los Angeles Lakers – former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins shared his thoughts on him on social media, deeming him the most underrated player in the NBA:
“Jrue Holiday is the most UNDERRATED Player in the NBA!!! He’s Elite on the offensive end and he puts people in a straight jacket on the defensive end. Just saying tho…” Perkins tweeted.
We all know by now that Perkins’ words should always be taken with a grain of salt, and going as far as to say that Jrue Holiday is an elite offensive player is a bit of a reach. Then again, he’s indeed one of the most underrated players in the world and one of the most suffocating and versatile defenders in the league.
In his first season playing under Mike Budenholzer, Jrue Holiday is averaging a smooth 16.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game on 50% from the floor, 38% from beyond the arc, and 81% from the free-throw line. He’s also averaging a league-leading 1.8 steals per game and 1.8 three-pointers per game.
So yeah, maybe it’s time to give credit where it’s due, and if Mike Conley was an All-Star this season with his averages, then there’s no reason to think that Jrue Holiday was also deserving of that nod.
More must-reads: