JRUE Holiday was welcomed with a low-pitched hum, created by Boston Celtics fans roaring the two-time All-Star’s name anytime he came out of the tunnel before the 2024 NBA Finals games.
The veteran guard quickly won the hearts of the C’s faithful after arriving in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2023-24 campaign tipped off.
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And his dad, Shawn, is grateful for the love Jrue received in his first season with the team.
“It’s cool,” Shawn Holiday told The U.S. Sun before Boston’s title-clinching 106-88 win in Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks.
“It’s really nice, to come to an organization like this and to be accepted right away.”
There was a lot of serendipity involved in Jrue’s move to Boston.
The ex-No. 17 NBA draft pick landed on the Celtics in exchange for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon, and two first-round picks in October via Portland following the blockbuster Damian Lillard trade.
But the C’s still had Brogdon only because three months earlier, the 2023 Sixth Man of the Year’s injury status caused their first attempt to acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards to fail.
The LA Clippers, who joined the talks as the trade’s facilitator, were said to have serious concerns about the sharpshooter’s health and pulled the plug on the transaction.
Boston later found a way to trade for Porzingis anyway, bringing the Memphis Grizzlies to the table and sending Marcus Smart to them to get the Latvian on a flight to New England.
After the Lillard trade, the Celtics quickly pounced on the opportunity to nab Jrue – a move that made perfect sense for both sides.
The ex-UCLA standout got to play for a championship contender rather than a rebuilding team.
Meanwhile, Boston added one of the league’s best defensive guards to the roster who seemed like a perfect fit for head coach Joe Mazzulla’s system with his unselfishness, grid, and grind.
Jrue averaged 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while, notably, shooting 42.9% from 3 in the regular season.
He only took his game to another level in the playoffs, particularly against the Mavericks in the Finals.
NBA Finals schedule
Thur 6 June – Game 1 – Dallas Mavericks 89-107 Boston Celtics
Sun 9 June – Game 2 – Dallas Mavericks 98-105 Boston Celtics
Wed 12 June – Game 3 – Boston Celtics 106-99 Dallas Mavericks
Fri 14 June – Game 4 – Boston Celtics 84-122 Dallas Mavericks
Mon 17 June – Game 5 – Dallas Mavericks 88-106 Boston Celtics
(Boston Celtics won 4-1)
The guard made Luka Doncic‘s life miserable with his pestering defense while remaining a reliable scoring option when Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum couldn’t get buckets.
In the first two games of the series, Jrue even seemed to be a genuine candidate for the NBA Finals MVP award.
“I’m happy for him. He’s earned it. He deserves it,” Shawn Holiday said of his son’s outstanding postseason and Finals MVP bid.
“He’s worked hard to get to this point and he’s shown it throughout the year, so I’m happy for him.”
After claiming his second championship ring, Jrue Holiday told reporters that the victory didn’t feel any different than when he triumphed with the Bucks in 2021 as “winning is always great.”
But the NBA star admitted he was very happy that he could call himself a Celtic.
“I’m blessed to be here, and I’m so happy to be here and I’m so happy Brad [Stevens] gave me that call to come through, and [Tatum] texting me, hitting me up, talking about ‘Come on, Champ.’
“It’s been a hell of a journey.”
