In the days that followed his September 27 trade from Milwaukee as part of the blockbuster Damian Lillard deal package, Jrue Holiday was a bit of a free agent. The All-Star point guard was aware that his time in Portland would be limited and that he would probably be traded before the 2023–24 season began.
Meanwhile, Holiday started to imagine where they may go. Boston was the one possible landing location that, in his opinion, stood out above the rest.
Holiday held onto his cautious optimism that he would eventually join the Celtics, and after a grueling four days of waiting, his wish came true. On October 1, Holiday was moved to the Celtics in a deal that sent shockwaves through the NBA, in return for Rob Williams, Malcolm Brogdon, and two future first-round draft selections.
Following his first practice with the C’s on Wednesday afternoon, Holiday made sure to highlight, “I had hopes of being here,” at an introductory press conference. Sometimes you don’t want to raise your expectations too high because doing so could break your heart. However, I was dedicated to that after I was transferred here.
Because he is dedicated to success, Holiday is dedicated to being a Celtic.
He said, “I think that coming here is definitely my best chance of winning.”
The 33-year-old is fully aware that the foundation of Boston sports culture is a success.
Holiday is aware of how near the Celtics have been over the last few years. In the previous seven years, they have appeared in five conference finals. They’ve advanced to the Finals, where they lost after trailing 2-1. They came close to pulling off the first-ever 0–3 series comeback in NBA history a few months ago, but it was not to be.
His ultimate goal is to help people reach their full potential and put an end to their days of failing.
“My goal is to help the team improve and win a championship,” declared the five-time All-Defense selection.
Re-emerge as a champion, that is. Holiday is the only player on the Celtics roster who has won the Larry O’Brien Trophy currently, having just won a championship with the Bucks in 2021. As a result, he is the only person who truly understands what it takes to win a championship, and he intends to share this knowledge with the other players in the locker room.
The road to the championship is “harder than anything you’ve ever done before,” he remarked. You’ll be worn out and drained, but in the end, it comes down to mental toughness, the ability to persevere and make plays—especially towards the conclusion of a series—and interpersonal chemistry. The team with the greatest desire will pursue and succeed in obtaining it.
Holiday can tell this Celtics squad really wants it by seeing practice on Tuesday and taking part in it on Wednesday.
“I thought it was really cool that you could see some of the chemistry and bonds that the guys already had,” Holiday remarked. It was evident that they were famished and focused on improving the things that may not have worked the previous year. That is only what you have seen. It was amazing to go out and play with them after having played against them for so long. Getting out there and competing felt fantastic. We are aware that the most competitive players among us are our best, and they are kind of leading the way. Being a two-way player, I understand how difficult it can be to get after players defensively, as demonstrated by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. But I believe that those two will undoubtedly support us during a large portion of the journey if we are to be a fantastic team.
Regarding Holiday’s role, Joe Mazzulla, the head coach, wants him to be versatile. And he has no intention of holding back, according to the head coach.
Joe will be very direct and honest with you if you guys know him at all. I appreciate that he has always reminded me that my job is to do everything, said Holiday, who finished the previous campaign with averages of 19.3 points, 7.4 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. “At the end of games, we need to be able to handle situations offensively and defensively, so we need to do everything we can to calm ourselves down and get solid shots. However, I believe that ultimately, it’s all about winning. Joe is a part of maintaining this winning culture, and his communication with me has been fantastic.
Holiday, who is originally from Los Angeles and grew up supporting an unnamed team, also values the local way of life in the place he is moving to.
He made a joke about his Purple and Gold ancestry, saying, “I know a lot of my family is probably hurt.” But this is a town of blue-collar workers. They are drawn to those that give their all into their career and work hard. I simply am that kind of person. I put everything I have into every game I play.
On the first practice day, Holiday lived up to the hype. Brad Stevens, half-jokingly, claimed that Holiday “almost made him quit coaching when he was guarding him” because the veteran point guard became aggressive with assistant coach Phil Pressey during drills.
The Celtics had been dreaming of having Holiday join them at the last minute before the season begins, and Stevens says, “We’ve wanted him here for a long time.” This team has been working hard to overcome obstacles for some time, and the addition of a top player with a proven track record improves their chances considerably.
Holiday considers it a dream come true as well. He’s at a place where he can play to his strengths and help those around him. He embodies a winning mindset, which is just what this sports city he lives and breathes.
