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After ‘short-lived’ Celtics stint, Jrue Holiday says he’s happy in Portland
“Everyone was assuming I was miserable or unhappy with it, but when I got the call from [Celtics president] Brad [Stevens], I was super excited."
Jrue Holiday is settling into his new home on the west coast, as he was traded this offseason to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Holiday came to Boston in 2023, and proved that he was a missing piece they needed. The Celtics would go on to win their 18th championship that year, with Holiday being an integral part of the team.
However, Boston made multiple offseason moves this summer, one of which being sending Holiday to Portland in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons.
While many people thought this trade was a step-down for Holiday, that’s not how he sees it.
“Everyone was assuming I was miserable or unhappy with it,” Holiday told media platform Andscape on Oct. 8. “But when I got the call from [Celtics president] Brad [Stevens], I was super excited.”
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This excitement became apparent after meeting the team he’s coming into. Portland has a young roster, with an average age of 24.5 compared to Holiday’s 35, but he believes they have potential, both on and off the floor.
“Being able to see the roster, the type of players, and the character that they have, going to a team like that means a lot,” Holiday stated. “Young or veteran team, I know that a team with good character guys will always be a good situation.”
Holiday will likely step into more of a leadership role with this young team, as opposed to Boston, where he was surrounded by vets such as Al Horford.
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Head coach Chauncy Billups, who Holiday played against at the beginning of his career, is equally excited to have someone with Holiday’s experience to lead this group.
“You can stick Jrue on any team, in any part of the world, and he’s going to know what to do, how to play, how to make players better, how to guard,” Billups told the media in September.
Along with the group of coaches and players he will be joining, Portland will be a bit of a homecoming for Holiday.
Being out west will be much closer to Holiday’s home, which is also a factor in his happiness surrounding the trade.
Originally from L.A., Holiday and his family have lived in California during the summer throughout his career, which was difficult when he was in the Eastern Conference.
“I like being closer to home, closer to my family,” he continued. “I’ve already seen them a lot more flying them in from L.A. It’s been good for me.”
Holiday’s wife and kids have been able to go back to California often along with being able to watch his games, something that wasn’t possible in Boston.
While Celtics fans will miss the defensive energy and leadership Holiday brought these last two years, they can take solace from his excitement for his future with the Trail Blazers.
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“It’s a good situation for me and my family. And this team has been great for me.”
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