NBA Star Jrue Holiday Sends Message on Retirement Before 17th Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Elie Deglaoui | Last updated Sep 22, 2025 1:34 PM ET

After spending two seasons with the Boston Celtics, veteran NBA guard Jrue Holiday is now preparing for his first campaign with the Portland Trail Blazers, who traded for him in the offseason.

Holiday has long been a fantastic NBA player since getting drafted in 2009, but it is fair to wonder how much longer he will be able to continue. The two-time All-Star turned 35 years old in June, though it is already looking like his best days are behind him.

While he can still provide value, Holiday looked like he clearly lost a step last season. He looked much slower defensively, and he has become much more injury-prone.

Furthermore, he averaged 11.1 points, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals in 30.6 minutes across 62 games during his final year in Boston. Holiday also shot 44.3% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc. All of these numbers were among the lowest of the UCLA alum's career.

Now preparing for his 17th season in the NBA, Holiday sent a message about his playing future and potential retirement that will give fans more of an idea of when he plans to call it a career.

Jrue Holiday Wants to Stay in the NBA for the Foreseeable Future

Holiday may have lost a step, but that does not mean he is planning on retiring just yet.

Recently, the Trail Blazers guard revealed that he wants to still play for as long as he can, and he has no target date in mind for his retirement (h/t DJ Siddiqi of RG.com).

"Just kind of going with it," says Holiday when asked how much longer he wants to play. "I've been blessed enough to play for this long, and I've never taken that for granted. I know this is a dream come true for most young kids, but I know 17 years is a dream come true for any 35-year-old who gets a chance to stay as healthy as possible and to play the game that they love. I'll just continue playing until I can't anymore."

The California native signed a four-year, $134.4 million contract extension that includes a player option for the 2027-28 season. While this is not confirmation about when he will retire for certain, it is still worth noting as a potential point of reference.

Now with the Trail Blazers, Holiday will be tasked with mentoring the team's young guards, such as Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Furthermore, while Portland is not expected to be competing for a championship next season, their 36-36 record last season (their best since 2020-21) proves that they may be in line for a playoff appearance soon.

As the Trail Blazers look to make an impact in the competitive Western Conference, they will need a good mix of veteran leadership and young stars. With Holiday now in the mix, they are well-equipped to make some noise and potentially make their first playoff appearance since 2021.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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