Jrue Holiday shares his thoughts after getting traded from Celtics

In a sense, Jrue Holiday’s time with the Trail Blazers has come full circle.

Last month’s holiday trade from Boston to Portland was the two-time NBA champion’s second stint with the Blazers.

Although he was traded from Milwaukee to Portland in September 2023, his initial stay with the Trail Blazers lasted only a few days before he was acquired by the Celtics in a historic trade that guaranteed the team’s 18th championship.

The 35-year-old guard anticipates remaining with Portland this time around in order to support a young team that is on the rise. Holiday talked on some of the feelings evoked by last month’s trade and his two-year tenure with the Celtics for the first time since he was traded from Boston.

On Tuesday, Holiday told reporters in Portland, “I was at home in California.”In the end, Brad [Stevens] called me and gave me some background information. However, I was thrilled. I was aware that I had previously been traded here. Thus, everything came full circle. I’m discussing it with Chauncey [Billups], the Portland coach. discussing it with [Portland GM] Joe [Cronin].

What they did for me the first time is truly appreciated. In terms of my career, that truly means a lot. Just chatting to them this time, I can see that they’re thinking that I’d be a wonderful fit here and that I have another shot to win you.

The defensive mainstay thinks the Trail Blazers may make a significant breakthrough in 2025–2026, despite the fact that Holiday is not necessarily anticipated to be the last player Portland needs to establish themselves as contenders, as he was in Boston.

The Blazers great Damian Lillard, who re-signed with Portland in free agency, is expected to return to the team in 2026–2027 after recovering from a torn Achilles. In addition, Portland’s youthful core finished the previous season on a high note with a winning record over the final two months.

Whatever you want to call it, I’ve been in the game long enough to know that it’s not always going to be the easiest, the best, or the brightest, Holiday remarked. However, I believe that basketball is amazing when you join a team and organization with the same character as this one. You feel like you’re a part of something greater than yourself, which is why you want to come here and play.

Given the four-year, $135 contract extension that Holiday signed in April 2024 and Boston’s need to reduce spending this summer in order to comply with the NBA’s stringent second apron, his departure from Boston felt all but inevitable this offseason.

However, Brad Stevens pointed out earlier this month that even while the Celtics’ cost-cutting measures were anticipated, they nonetheless hurt a club that only a few months ago appeared to be in the middle of a long window of competitiveness.

If he didn’t already have it, I believe that Jr. Holiday cemented his candidacy for the Hall of Fame here, Stevens stated. And from a distance, we’ll be watching, cheering, and following him. He is, however, the best individual you could ever have in your building and on your team.

Stevens added of his talks with Holiday and another moved Celtic, Kristaps Porzingis, “I actually talked to both those guys a couple weeks before and just said, Listen, there’s a chance that you’re back, but there’s also a high chance that you’re not.” It was crucial for us to get out of the penalty box in a number of ways because you can feel those, and those are real things. The agents have also done a wonderful job of grasping the difficulties posed by the new CBA and the second phase.

Since 2023, Conor Ryan has worked as a staff writer for Boston.com, covering the Boston Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.