06-23-2025, 12:23 PM
Ringer had Jrue at #69 for their top 100. Here was the writeup.
Bulwark defender and across-the-board contributor whose offense now comes on an as-needed basis.
Feel for the Game
On-Ball Defense
Positional Versatility
Spacer
Analysis
For all the good Holiday did in Milwaukee, including pushing the Bucks over the top to win their first title in 50 years, the top-heavy roster would sometimes spotlight his game’s blemishes—namely, his unwillingness to impose his will on offense. In Boston, surrounded by a deep reserve of two-way players, Holiday has blended into the crowd, which allows his best attributes—hounding on-ball defense, the strength to stand up against virtually any opponent, playmaking or scoring within the flow of the offense—to pop. Holiday has lived several lives in the NBA: precocious ball handler, pick-and-roll partner to one of the game’s best unicorns, underrated defensive soul taker, properly rated defensive master. Boston Jrue is the ultimate luxury, someone who can turn up the levels on any of those identities as needed.
As a result of the role switch, the raw production has diminished: Holiday is averaging single-digit shot attempts for the first time since his rookie season, and while the extra discretion led to career-high efficiency last season, he’s struggled to hit from the perimeter in his encore with the Celtics. It’s a mild concern for a player who recently banked $135 million through his age-37 season, but Holiday has shown the ability to flip the on switch when necessary—including logging games of 28 and 26 points last postseason when the mismatches worked in his favor, all while running the gamut on defensive assignments.
Holiday has long been one of the game’s most versatile players, but Boston’s depth of talent has been his genius grant, affording him the space to focus on the craftwork that makes him great. It remains to be seen how long the historically expensive Celtics can afford such a luxury, especially as Holiday ages deeper into his 30s, but as it stands, he represents everything that makes the team great. —Justin Verrier
Bulwark defender and across-the-board contributor whose offense now comes on an as-needed basis.
Feel for the Game
On-Ball Defense
Positional Versatility
Spacer
Analysis
For all the good Holiday did in Milwaukee, including pushing the Bucks over the top to win their first title in 50 years, the top-heavy roster would sometimes spotlight his game’s blemishes—namely, his unwillingness to impose his will on offense. In Boston, surrounded by a deep reserve of two-way players, Holiday has blended into the crowd, which allows his best attributes—hounding on-ball defense, the strength to stand up against virtually any opponent, playmaking or scoring within the flow of the offense—to pop. Holiday has lived several lives in the NBA: precocious ball handler, pick-and-roll partner to one of the game’s best unicorns, underrated defensive soul taker, properly rated defensive master. Boston Jrue is the ultimate luxury, someone who can turn up the levels on any of those identities as needed.
As a result of the role switch, the raw production has diminished: Holiday is averaging single-digit shot attempts for the first time since his rookie season, and while the extra discretion led to career-high efficiency last season, he’s struggled to hit from the perimeter in his encore with the Celtics. It’s a mild concern for a player who recently banked $135 million through his age-37 season, but Holiday has shown the ability to flip the on switch when necessary—including logging games of 28 and 26 points last postseason when the mismatches worked in his favor, all while running the gamut on defensive assignments.
Holiday has long been one of the game’s most versatile players, but Boston’s depth of talent has been his genius grant, affording him the space to focus on the craftwork that makes him great. It remains to be seen how long the historically expensive Celtics can afford such a luxury, especially as Holiday ages deeper into his 30s, but as it stands, he represents everything that makes the team great. —Justin Verrier
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