When the Milwaukee Bucks traded for Damian Lillard last summer, they certainly didn't anticipate Jrue Holiday ending up on the Boston Celtics. Now, fewer than nine months later, the Celtics have added an 18th championship banner to their all-time NBA ledger, and much of the credit goes to Holiday, who redefined the team in both tangible and intangible ways.
Holiday's Transformative Presence
Holiday thrived in a role where he did not have to shoulder the burden of being a primary scorer or creator. Instead, he filled in all the right gaps and elevated Boston's defense to a suffocating level. This versatility made him an indispensable asset for the Celtics.
The Stevens Effect
Brad Stevens' tenure as the president of basketball operations for the Celtics has been marked by some incredible moves. Landing Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White is considered among his best trades in recent memory. However, many argue that acquiring Jrue Holiday dwarfs even those achievements.
Defensive Mastery Against Mavericks
Holiday's defensive prowess was particularly highlighted during the series against the Dallas Mavericks. He was Boston's most valuable player in that series and demonstrated an uncanny ability to shut down any opponent. The Mavericks' chances waned as Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving found themselves unable to generate consistent offensive leverage. Although Jaylen Brown was impressive, it was Holiday who had Doncic and Irving in virtual shackles whenever he was on the floor.
A Standout Series Performance
Holiday's consistency throughout the series was nothing short of remarkable. Until Jayson Tatum put up a line of 31-11-8-2 in the clincher on Monday, Holiday's Game 2 performance was the standout single-game showing of the series. Remarkably, he became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1998 to score at least 38 points with zero turnovers through the first two games of an NBA Finals.
Championship Caliber
If you sign Holiday, a title shot seems almost guaranteed. He is the only player in the league to win two championships over the last four years. Holiday played a crucial role in leading the Bucks to the 2021 championship against the Suns, where he rendered Chris Paul ineffective. This year, he replicated that defensive dominance with the Celtics, underscoring his reputation as the best defender in the league. Jalen Brunson certainly thinks so, having recently called Holiday the best defender in the league.
Beyond Defense
Holiday's contributions extend beyond defense. He consistently makes smart plays with the ball or cuts to the right spot. His ball-hawk instincts also help secure long offensive rebounds. Throughout the playoffs, he maintained impressive 50-40-95 shooting splits. In the Finals, Holiday averaged just under 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists on 53/42/100 shooting splits. He scored the first six points for the Celtics on Monday, feasting in the dunker's spot all series as Tatum drew the defense's attention, allowing Holiday to slip in behind Doncic and Irving.
A Season of Bonuses
Holiday earned a little more cash with the $1.2 million bonus worked into his contract for winning the championship. He checked off every incentive bonus available to him, totaling an extra $2.8 million, in what has truly been a dream season. In less than a year, Holiday went from discovering he had been traded from the Bucks upon waking from a nap to winning the second championship of what is becoming a Hall of Fame career.
Immeasurable Impact
Holiday’s impact on the Celtics has been immeasurable. In a world of professional sports where team success is often considered a sum of its many parts, sometimes a single player can indeed make all the difference. The Celtics' recent title run is a testament to that truth, with Jrue Holiday serving as the cornerstone of their championship-winning campaign.
As an NBA analyst stated, "I'm sure it happened at some point, but I can't recall Holiday getting truly beat one time in this series. Against Doncic and Irving? That is an insane thing to say." Brunson echoed those sentiments, declaring, "Holiday [is] the best defender in the league."
In an era where versatile and game-changing players are a premium commodity, Jrue Holiday has proven himself to be an irreplaceable asset. Whether it’s his lockdown defense, his playmaking abilities, or his situational awareness, Holiday has shown that he is capable of carrying a team to the pinnacle of NBA success.