The NBA season is officially set to begin today when the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks face off in the inaugural matchup of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Games. There has been a lot of commotion and turmoil surrounding the NBA landscape of late. Specifically, since the Milwaukee Bucks traded for superstar point guard Damian Lillard, which inadvertently sent All-Star guard Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics.
Holiday, a Los Angeles native who now plays for the Celtics, took the time to acknowledge the historic rivalry between the Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers and how his arrival to Boston had some mixed feelings within his own family.
“Growing up in L.A. as a Laker fan, I know a lot of family’s probably hurt,” Holiday stated in his first press conference as a member of the Celtics.
After the Bucks sent Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers as the focal point of the trade package sent out to acquire Lillard’s services, Holiday was quickly rerouted to the Celtics in exchange for former Sixth Man of the Year Award winner Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and two first-round picks.
Last season, Holiday averaged 19.3 points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.2 steals. Widely regarded as one of the premiere defensive players in the NBA, Holiday is prepared to come in and make an immediate impact with the Celtics in their pursuit of an NBA Championship.
They have reached the Eastern Conference Finals in five of the past seven seasons, yet have zero titles to show for it. They’re hoping the addition of Holiday can help this team get over the hump.
