When the Milwaukee Bucks traded for Damian Lillard last summer, they didn't anticipate Jrue Holiday ending up on the Boston Celtics. But fewer than nine months later, the Celtics have added an 18th championship banner to their all-time NBA ledger, and Holiday's role in this accomplishment cannot be overstated.
The Holiday Effect: Transformation on and off the Court
Holiday made the Celtics an entirely different team in both tangible and intangible ways. Thriving in a role where he did not need to be the primary scorer or creator, Holiday stepped in to fill the gaps perfectly and elevated Boston's defense to a suffocating level.
Brad Stevens' tenure with the Celtics has been marked by some incredible trades, including landing Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White. However, many argue that acquiring Holiday surpassed even those achievements. Holiday was particularly instrumental during the series against the Dallas Mavericks, where his defensive prowess was highlighted. He was Boston's most valuable player in that series, capable of shutting down any opponent.
Standing Out in the Finals
Until Jayson Tatum put up a spectacular line of 31 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals in the clinching game on Monday, Holiday's Game 2 performance had been the standout of the series. Scoring at least 38 points with zero turnovers through the first two games of a Finals is an incredible feat, one that draws comparisons to Michael Jordan in 1998.
The Mavericks' chances dwindled as Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving struggled to generate consistent offensive leverage. While Jaylen Brown also impressed, it was Holiday who had Doncic and Irving in virtual shackles whenever he was on the floor. His consistency throughout the series was remarkable. If a team signs Holiday, a title shot seems almost guaranteed to follow. Whether it's the Knicks, the Sixers, the Clippers, or the Lakers, having Holiday likely puts them right in the championship mix.
Two-Time Champion
Holiday is the only player in the league to win two championships over the last four years. He played a crucial role in leading the Bucks to their 2021 championship against the Suns, where he rendered Chris Paul ineffective. Jalen Brunson recently called Holiday the best defender in the league, which isn’t hyperbole. Holiday's lateral movement, flexibility, strength, and anticipation are otherworldly, demoralizing opponents to the point where they hesitate to even want the ball in their hands.
More Than Defense
Holiday's impact extends beyond his defensive skills. He consistently makes smart plays with the ball and cuts to the right spots on the floor. His ball-hawk instincts also help secure long offensive rebounds. Holiday wrapped up the playoffs with impressive 50-40-95 shooting splits. In the Finals, he averaged just under 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists on 53/42/100 shooting splits.
Holiday scored the first six points for the Celtics in the clincher and feasted in the dunker's spot all series as Tatum drew the defense's attention. Doncic and Irving frequently fell asleep, allowing Holiday to slip in behind them.
A Dream Season
Holiday also earned himself a little more cash with a $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, capping what has 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.
Holiday's impact on the Celtics has been immeasurable. In the world of professional sports, sometimes a single player can indeed make all the difference. As one NBA analyst put it, "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 stating, "Holiday [is] the best defender in the league."