Jrue Holiday reflects on trade to Celtics as trip to NBA Finals awaits

Jrue Holiday wasn't shy in addressing how surprised he was after the Milwaukee Bucks traded him as part of the Damian Lillard deal. At the time, Holiday called it a "shock" and admits that he wishes the Bucks had informed him in advance, instead of calling him right before the trade involving Damian Lillard happened.

"It was just a shock because at least let me know 24 hours in advance, not five minutes in advance. ... I mean, we won. I won there," Holiday said on "The Draymond Green Show."

But Holiday, now a member of the Boston Celtics and days away from the start of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, has come to peace with it and then some. Holiday believes this is how things were supposed to play out, as The Athletic's Jay King detailed.

“I think that this is what was supposed to happen," Holiday said, per King.

“I’m supposed to be here, and I’m supposed to be here with my teammates and we’re supposed to do this together. And it is because that’s the way it was supposed to be.”

Not only has Holiday adapted to his new role with a new franchise, but he's thrived of late in postseason play.

After averaging 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists during the regular season while shooting a career-best 42.9 percent from three-point range, he excelled in the team's sweep of the Indiana Pacers.

During the Eastern Conference finals matchup, Holiday averaged 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists while shooting 58.7 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from beyond the arc. He was integral to the team's series victory over Indiana and now looks to build off that in a tough matchup against the Mavericks.

Holiday's biggest impact in the NBA Finals could come on the defensive end. The Celtics will have their hands full with the star guard duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Doncic and Irving propelled the Mavericks to a 4-1 series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and have the entire Dallas team firing on all cylinders heading into the matchup with Boston.