Home Basketball Jrue Holiday and the Celtics Supposedly Sign a Four-Year Extension

Jrue Holiday and the Celtics Supposedly Sign a Four-Year Extension

Basketball — 04/11/2024

An NBA-best (62-17) squad will remain in Boston for the next few seasons—four to be exact—thanks to a contract extension agreement that the Celtics and Jrue Holiday signed with two games remaining before the playoffs begin.

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Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that Boston Celtics forward Chris Holiday has agreed to a four-year, $135 million agreement with the team. By committing to the Bruins and their star-studded core—which helped turn the page throughout their nearly-spotless 2023-24 run—the 33-year-old veteran turned down his $37.3 million player option for 2024-25.

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There was no delay on the part of the Celtics’ team governor Wyc Grousbeck and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. In October, Stevens was beaming during Holiday’s first press conference following the trade that sent Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III to the Portland Trail Blazers for the two-time All-Star. The organization had high hopes for Holiday before he arrived, but after seeing his vision realized during an outstanding first year in Boston, it was evident that he made a more-than-acceptable impression.

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An aging Celtics player named Al Horford told The Ringer’s Mirin Fader, “He came in here very willing, very open-minded, not stepping on anybody’s toes and just wanting to work” (prior to Holiday’s payday). “His work ethic, daily routine, and genuine embrace of our players, what we had here, and his attempts to find his way with this group are what have impressed me the most about him.”

In addition to leading the defense, stabilizing the offense, and believing in Boston’s team-first philosophy, Holiday has been instrumental in giving the Celtics everything they’ve needed to win. For this reason, Holiday was unable to reach his previous high of 15 points per game with the Milwaukee Bucks and instead shot 10 times, his lowest total since his rookie season of 2009–10.

That hasn’t dampened Holiday’s offensive effect much, as he has shot 43% from beyond the arc for a career-best 12.5 points per game, including 60+ percent from the corner, good for first place in the NBA.

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On the other side, Holiday has helped restore Boston’s identity as a defensive powerhouse by utilizing his reputation throughout the league in partnership with Derrick White. Holiday ranks first among conference guards in rebounding with 5.3 and second in blocks with 0.8, trailing only White with 1.2, while the Celtics hold the lead in defensive rating (110.5) for the Eastern Conference.

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On April 1, Holiday became eligible for a pay extension, which could have reached $51 million per annum. Given Holiday’s advanced years, it was illogical and obviously ruins Stevens’ and Grousbeck’s chances of retaining the existing starting five. However, with Holiday being a Celtic until 2025–26 (and Porzingis having already been re-signed prior to the season), Boston’s championship window will be wide open.

As a bonus, Holiday will have four additional seasons to make up for the trade that Milwaukee made to get Damian Lillard.