Jrue Holiday Contract: Will the Bucks’ Gift to Celtics Stay After 2024 NBA Finals Heroics?

Imagine achieving something no one else in NBA history has — winning two championships in your first season with two different teams. Jrue Holiday has created NBA history with his championship victory. In 43 minutes, Holiday scored 15 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, made four assists, and blocked one shot in Monday’s 106-88 NBA Finals victory over the Mavericks.

The 34-year-old proved to be a priceless asset to the Celtics as they captured NBA Championship No. 18. But what does the future hold for Holiday and the Celtics?

Jrue Holiday’s contract with the Boston Celtics

Guard Jrue Holiday and the Boston Celtics reached a four-year, $135 million contract deal in April.  This came after his sensational playoffs run. Throughout 19 playoff games, he averaged 13.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks while shooting 50.3 percent from the field.

His final performance was just as good. He was essential to Boston’s win, averaging 14.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 45.5 percent shooting from the field in five NBA Finals games. As the only player in NBA history to win two championships in his first season with two different teams, Jrue Holiday’s impact has reshaped expectations.

After his contract extension, Jrue had said, “Once I knew I was getting traded here, this is a part of what I wanted or what I envisioned. Being in a great organization, being here for a lengthy amount of time and being able to play along guys like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and really try to get more banners, get more rings here.” And that he did.

Boston’s executive Brad Stevens knew what he was doing when he acquired Holiday after he was traded by the Milwaukee Bucks for Damian Lillard. Is Milwaukee regretting its decision now?

Did the Milwaukee Bucks make the wrong decision by trading Jrue Holiday?

Holiday had played for the Bucks for three whole seasons averaging 18.5 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in 193 games for the team. He was instrumental in their 2021 championship win against the Phoenix Suns. In a trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, and a 2029 first-round draft pick were sent to the Portland Trail Blazers in September last year. Four days later, he was traded to the Celtics.

Joel Embiid concurs that without him, the Celtics would not be in this position. After their 106-99 win over the Mavs, he tweeted, “Did the Bucks give them the championship?” And it’s starting to look like they may have.

Over the past four years, Holiday is the only player in the league to have won two championships. He joins Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who won with the Lakers in 2020 and with the Nuggets last season, as the only two players with multiple rings this decade. He also became the first player ever to average 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists on 53/42/100 shooting splits in the finals.

The Bucks made a mistake. And considering Holiday’s latest contract, all signs point to Holiday continuing to be a cornerstone for the Celtics as they pursue even more championships in the future.

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