Jrue Holiday discussed how he's been embraced by Celtics fans since 2023 trade (2024)

Morning Sports Update

"Once they love you, there's nothing like it. It's been great."

By Hayden Bird

June 6, 2024 | 10:50 AM

Jrue Holiday on how Celtics fans have embraced him: Only several days after declaring that he wanted to be a “Buck for life,” Jrue Holiday found himself on the way out of Milwaukee as part of the blockbuster Damian Lillard trade back in September.

Holiday, 33, was then traded a second time on Oct. 1. Having barely even considered his new setting (Portland) after the Lillard trade, Holiday was acquired by the Celtics in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, a 2024 first-round draft pick and a 2029 first-round draft pick.

When things settled back down again, Holiday found himself on a rival team that the Bucks had battled in three playoff series since 2018 (though he had personally only been a part of the 2022 matchup).

Still, the six-time NBA All-Defensive Team member was concerned at first about how he would be received by the Celtics and Boston fans. Asked recently by ESPN’s Malika Edwards about the reaction following the trade, Holiday acknowledged his initial anxiety.

“When I first came, I thought that they would hate me because of the series that went back-and-forth the year or two before that,” said Holiday, “but I came in, and they squeezed me. They hugged me and embraced me and made feel like I was a part of the team.

“Since then, it’s been nothing but love,” he added.

Turning to former Celtics center Kendrick Perkins (now an ESPN analyst), Holiday discussed the wider reception from Boston.

“You know how this city is,” Holiday said to Perkins. “Once they love you, there’s nothing like it. It’s been great.”

In his first season with the Celtics, Holiday was named to the All-Defensive Second Team along with teammate Derrick White. Averaging 12.5 points per game in the regular season, he’s also contributed clutch play and decision-making during Boston’s playoff run to the finals.

Trivia: Jrue Holiday’s wife, Lauren, was a professional athlete in what sport?

(Answer at the bottom.)

Hint: She’s a two-time Olympic gold medalist and helped the United States win another major international competition in 2015. She played for a Boston team from 2010-2011.

Scores and schedules:

Tonight, the Celtics and Mavericks begin the NBA Finals with Game 1 at TD Garden tipping off at 8:30 p.m.

Elsewhere, the Red Sox got a 9-0 win over the Braves on Wednesday night. Nick Pivettta pitched seven scoreless innings, notching nine strikeouts. Tonight, Boston begins a four-game series against the White Sox in Chicago at 8:10 p.m.

More from Boston.com:

• Nick Pivetta, Rafael Devers power the Red Sox to a 9-0 win over the Braves
• Where does Kyrie Irving rank among greatest Boston sports villains?
• Kyrie Irving says he’s ready to face TD Garden crowd with ‘no fear’
• Watch: Tom Brady warns Mavericks fans in Celtics hype video
• Matt Light thought a 2007 email from Bill Belichick was a prank. It led to a humorous exchange.
• LeBron James: ‘This Joe Mazzulla guy is a [expletive] genius’
• Watch: Jayson Tatum gives insightful answer to former top-3 pick who asked for advice
• Celtics rookie Jordan Walsh says beating hometown Mavs would be ‘huge for me’
• Kristaps Porzingis’ return and 7 other takeaways from NBA Finals Media Day
• Looking back on how the Celtics charted a path forward after the disastrous summer of 2019
• 9 places to watch the NBA Finals near TD Garden
• NHL to broadcast Stanley Cup Final games in American Sign Language, a 1st for a major sports league

Adrian Wojnarowski’s Thursday morning news: The Lakers are reportedly pursuing back-to-back National Champion UConn head coach Dan Hurley for Los Angeles’s current vacancy.

On this day: In 1984, the Celtics outlasted the Lakers 129-125 in overtime of Game 4 of the NBA Finals at The Forum in Los Angeles, with Kevin McHale’s foul on Kurt Rambis being arguably the single most memorable sequence from the game:

Alongside the physicality of the game was some high-level basketball between the NBA’s two best teams of the era. With the win, the Celtics evened the series 2-2 and avenged the 137-104 Game 3 blowout loss.

Larry Bird led Boston in both points (29) and rebounds (21), with team defense (a 15-8 difference in steals) proving to be a difference. The Celtics went on to win the NBA Finals in seven games.

Daily highlight: A dazzling bit of fielding from Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz.

Trivia answer: Soccer