Jrue Holiday, a Boston Celtics guard, spent only a brief time with the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2023 summer. The Milwaukee Bucks sent the defensive-minded guard to Portland as part of a three-team deal that included Damian Lillard in Milwaukee.
Holiday told Jay King of The Athletic that Trail Blazers’ head coach, Chauncey Billups, emphasized the 33-year-old’s well-being following a shocking incident in his NBA career.
“It was very meaningful,” the two-time All-Star said. “Having a coach that looks out for my best interests.” Additionally, it was visible and audible, something that perhaps some players don’t often get to witness from a coach. Thus, from the start, he unquestionably had my best interests (in mind). And he simply watched out for me at all times.
After spending 17 seasons as an NBA player, Billups informed the press that he was “blindsided” by Holiday’s trade.
“Being traded was a little tough for him,” Billups remarked. Kind of caught off guard by that. I have experienced that. Thus, simply having that kind of conversation with him because I know him. And I felt it was crucial that he be treated fairly because he is a nice guy who has contributed greatly to every team and community.
In his first season with the Celtics, Holiday has played in 57 games thus far in the 2023–24 regular season. He is averaging 12.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 44.6 percent from beyond the arc.
