During the first episode of his podcast with former NBA guard JJ Redick , Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James said the Boston Celtics got Jrue 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.
The Celtics have the best record in the NBA at 54-14. Holiday is averaging 12.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks with Boston while shooting 48.5% from the field, 44.5% from beyond the arc and 83.3% from the free-throw line.
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 hopeful that Holiday is the missing piece to a title.
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.”
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.”
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