When the Milwaukee Bucks traded for Damian Lillard last summer, they didn't anticipate Jrue Holiday ending up on the Boston Celtics. Fewer than nine months later, the Celtics added an 18th championship banner to their all-time NBA ledger.
Holiday’s Transformative Influence
Jrue Holiday made the Celtics an entirely different team in ways both tangible and intangible. In a role where he did not have to be a primary scorer or creator, Holiday thrived. He filled in all the right gaps and elevated Boston's defense to a suffocating level.
Holiday's acquisition is already being considered one of Brad Stevens' greatest moves. Though landing Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White are also noteworthy, adding Holiday might surpass even those achievements.
Defensive Mastery
Holiday's defensive prowess shone particularly bright during the series against the Dallas Mavericks. He was, without a doubt, Boston's most valuable player in that series. Holiday demonstrated his capacity to shut down any opponent and significantly inhibit their performance.
Until Jayson Tatum's 31-11-8-2 line in the decisive game, Holiday's Game 2 performance stood out as the series' highlight. Scoring at least 38 points with zero turnovers through the first two games of the Finals, Holiday's performance was reminiscent of Michael Jordan's 1998 Finals showing.
The Mavericks’ chances dwindled as Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving found themselves unable to generate consistent offensive leverage. Despite Jaylen Brown's impressive contributions, it was Holiday who kept Doncic and Irving in check, virtually shackling them whenever he was on the floor.
Consistency and Versatility
Holiday's consistency throughout the series was remarkable. His impact is so significant that signing him could almost guarantee a title shot for any team. Placed on teams like the Knicks, the Sixers, the Clippers, or the Lakers, a title would not be far from reach.
Holiday is the only player in the league to win two championships over the last four years, having played a crucial role in leading the Bucks to the 2021 championship against the Suns, where he rendered Chris Paul ineffective. His defensive skills have been recognized throughout the NBA, with Jalen Brunson recently calling him the best defender in the league.
Offensive Contributions
Holiday's contributions extend beyond defense. He consistently makes smart plays with the ball, cuts to the right spots, and demonstrates incredible ball-hawk instincts, securing long offensive rebounds. He concluded the playoffs with impressive 50-40-95 shooting splits and averaged just under 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists in the Finals on 53/42/100 shooting splits.
Holiday's offensive impact was also evident at the beginning of games. He scored the first six points for the Celtics in the championship-clinching game, exploiting his position in the dunker's spot as Tatum drew the defense's attention. Doncic and Irving were often caught napping as Holiday slipped in behind them.
Reward for Excellence
Holiday earned a little extra cash, with a $1.2 million bonus worked into his contract for winning the championship. In total, he checked off every incentive bonus available to him, earning an additional $2.8 million in what can only be described as 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. Holiday’s impact on the Celtics has been immeasurable.
A Singular Impact
In the world of professional sports, sometimes a single player can indeed make all the difference. An NBA analyst remarked on Holiday’s performance by saying, "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 this sentiment by declaring, "Holiday [is] the best defender in the league."
Jrue Holiday's journey with the Celtics has solidified his status as one of the league’s elite players. His defensive tenacity, combined with his offensive smart play, not only earned Boston a championship but also left an indelible mark on the franchise's storied history.