Jrue Holiday Breaks Silence After Celtics-Blazers Trade | Portland Trail Blazers News
Drew Holiday breaks silence after Celtics Blazers trade. Portland Trailblazers news. Imagine being traded to a new team and having the opportunity to play with one of your childhood heroes. It’s a dream come true for Drew Holiday, who was recently introduced as the newest member of the Portland Trailblazers. But here’s where it gets interesting. Holiday’s journey to the Blazers was not without its twists and turns. In a surprising move, the Boston Celtics traded him to the Blazers. And Holiday has expressed his excitement about the unique challenge that lies ahead. As he put it, I was excited. I knew that obviously I got traded here before, so it was kind of full circle talking to Chanty Bilips about it, talking to Joe Cronin about it. And I really do appreciate what they did the first time around. The Celtics front office, led by Brad Stevens, had prepared Holiday and other veterans for the possibility of being traded. Given the team’s difficult position with the second apron, despite initial reports that Holiday was not thrilled about landing in Portland, it’s been revealed that he received a warm welcome from none other than Damian Lillard, who reached out to him and sang the praises of the organization. And this is the part most people miss. Lillard’s surprise return to the Blazers has invigorated Holiday’s interest in the team’s plans for the future. As Holiday noted, obviously Dame loves Portland and he’s been here for years and I know his family is here. To be able to play with him on the same team is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Even before I left New Orleans, that was something that I’ve always wanted to do. The Blazers trade for Lillard was a complex one involving multiple teams and players including Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogden, and draft picks. But the end result is that Holiday will have the chance to play alongside Lillard. Albeit after the latter’s recovery from an Achilles injury, the Blazers are looking to make a playoff push for the first time since 2020 to 21. And Holiday is eager to contribute to the team’s success. He praised the team’s defense and discussed his own positionless game and shooting abilities, which he believes will fit in well alongside Lillard and other young talent like Scott Henderson. As Holiday said, “I think I’ve been in the game to know that it’s not always going to be the brightest or the best or the easiest. I think coming to a team and an organization that has the character of this team and organization makes basketball great. That’s why you want to come here and play because you feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself. The Blazers boast an impressive young core including Henderson, Denny Odia, and Donovan Klingan, who will take over for DeAndre Aton at center. Holiday also expressed his admiration for summer league sensation Yong Hansen, who impressed him with his skills. But here’s the question. Can the Blazers make a deep playoff run with Holiday and Lillard leading the charge? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain. The addition of Holiday has brought a new level of excitement and anticipation to the team. As he put it, I can just be me. I don’t really know how to do anything else. Just come here and be the person that I’ve always been and try not to just help out as much as possible, but try to win. The Blazers are certainly hoping that Holiday’s winning mentality will rub off on the rest of the team and that they can make a serious push for a championship in the near future. But what do you think? Can the Blazers make some noise in the playoffs with Holiday and Lillard on board? Let us know in the comments. Drew Holiday on mentorship. How Andre Iguodala shaped his NBA rookie season. Drew Holiday, a two-time NBA champion, is set to embrace a new chapter in his career as he transitions from the Boston Celtics to the Portland Trailblazers. This move places him in a unique position as he will be the most experienced player on a team that is currently focused on rebuilding around a youthful roster. With this shift, Holiday is poised to take on a mentorship role, guiding the next generation of players. Reflecting on his early career, Holiday shared memories of a particular player who was notably tough on him during his rookie season. Yeah, one was Andre Iguodala. Holiday recounted during his introductory press conference. He was a jerk. My rookie year, he was just on you or he was on me about a lot. Holiday’s inaugural season with the Philadelphia 76ers was less than stellar, especially considering the team had recently made the playoffs, largely due to Iguadala’s contributions during his prime. The 76ers managed to win only 27 games in Holiday’s rookie year after he was selected 17th overall in the 2009 draft. Looking back, Holiday has come to appreciate the tough love he received from Iguodala. I didn’t really understand why until later. He obviously saw something in me that I guess I hadn’t seen yet, he explained. Just constantly being on me and harping on me about being consistent and the things that I have to do are super important. In addition to Iguadala, Holiday acknowledged the influence of another veteran, Elton Brand, who had a remarkable career and is still making an impact in Philadelphia. I had Elton Brand. I think everybody knows Elton Bran’s game. Holiday noted, “His career has been amazing and what he’s doing in Philly. I also had Aaron McKe as a coach. He was kind of like my player coach who really instilled in me a lot of hard work because we were the same position. He coached me up a lot on how to be solid, not just as a player, but as a human.” Holiday emphasized that Iguadala was instrumental in keeping him focused. You have creativity and you might want to try things if it’s defensively or offensively,” Holiday said. And he would always tell me, “Be silent.” This advice helped Holiday learn when to be assertive, whether it was trying to force a turnover on defense or scoring on offense. Although it could be frustrating at times, Iguidala’s experience as an alldefensive player undoubtedly contributed to Holiday’s development onto one of the premier onball defenders of his era. Now, as he steps into his new role with the Blazers, Holiday has the opportunity to mentor promising young talents like Sheetan Sharp and Scoot Henderson. He hopes to share his extensive knowledge and experience to aid in their growth. Henderson in particular stands to benefit from the guidance of both Holiday and Damen Lillard as he navigates a crucial year after not meeting expectations in his first two seasons. “You can tell they love the game of basketball,” Holiday remarked about Henderson and Sharp. “They love to hoop. You can tell they give 110% every time they play. So, I’m super excited to if it’s mentor, then mentor them. be able to go out here and show the world not just my talent but theirs. Just from playing against them, they’re going to have a long road ahead of them. They’re going to have very long careers. This transition marks a significant change for Holiday, who has spent the last 5 years on teams vying for championships. However, his veteran presence is expected to play a crucial role in helping the Blazers progress in their rebuilding efforts. But here’s where it gets controversial. Can a player who has been part of championship teams truly adapt to a rebuilding environment? Will Holiday’s experience translate into success for the Blazers? Or will the challenges of mentoring young players prove to be more difficult than anticipated? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.
00:00 – Jrue Holiday Breaks Silence After Celtics-Blazers Trade | Portland Trail Blazers News
03:51 – Jrue Holiday on Mentorship: How Andre Iguodala Shaped His NBA Rookie Season
1. Jrue Holiday Breaks Silence After Celtics-Blazers Trade | Portland Trail Blazers News
Jrue Holiday speaks out for the first time since being traded from the Boston Celtics to the Portland Trail Blazers! In this video, we cover Holiday’s reaction to the trade, his excitement for a new challenge in Portland, and his appreciation for the Celtics’ transparency. Hear what Jrue had to say about teaming up with Damian Lillard, his conversations with Chauncey Billups and Joe Cronin, and his thoughts on the Blazers’ young talent like Scott Henderson, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, and Yang Hansen.
We also discuss the impact of Damian Lillard’s return to Portland, the Blazers’ playoff hopes, and how Jrue Holiday plans to fit into the team’s system. Get the latest updates on the trade details, Holiday’s contract, and his health status going into the new NBA season.
If you’re a Portland Trail Blazers or NBA fan, don’t miss this in-depth breakdown of one of the offseason’s biggest moves!
Keywords: Jrue Holiday trade, Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, Damian Lillard, NBA news, Jrue Holiday interview, Blazers roster, NBA trades, Chauncey Billups, Scott Henderson, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, Yang Hansen, NBA offseason, NBA rumors, Jrue Holiday Celtics, Jrue Holiday Blazers, NBA 2025 season.
2. Jrue Holiday on Mentorship: How Andre Iguodala Shaped His NBA Rookie Season
In this video, NBA star Jrue Holiday opens up about his rookie season struggles and the tough mentorship he received from Andre Iguodala. Watch as Holiday recalls how Iguodala’s relentless approach pushed him to become one of the best on-ball defenders in the league. The video also touches on insights from other veteran figures like Elton Brand and Aaron McKie, detailing how their guidance helped him develop both as a player and as a person.
Now set to take on a mentorship role with the Portland Trail Blazers, Holiday shares his excitement about guiding young talents such as Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson. Whether you’re a fan of the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, or interested in the rebuilding stories of NBA teams, this video offers an exclusive look into the dynamics of veteran mentorship and player development in the NBA.
