TITLE: Boston Salutes 2024 Champion Jrue Holiday During Blazers’ Visit
SLUG: boston-salutes-2024-champion-jrue-holiday-return
CONTENT:
BOSTON — Jrue Holiday was met with repeated ovations Monday night when he stepped back onto the TD Garden floor for the first time since helping the Boston Celtics capture the 2024 NBA championship.
The Portland Trail Blazers guard drew cheers as his image appeared on the scoreboard during warm-ups, again during player introductions, and finally during a tribute video that showed him hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Fans rose to their feet throughout the presentation.
“Brought back good times,” Holiday said after Portland’s 102-94 defeat. “You play hard for this team and this city, and they definitely have your back.”
Boston acquired Holiday from Portland before the 2023-24 season and relied on his two-way play to secure the franchise’s 18th title. Following that run, the Celtics moved Holiday and center Kristaps Porziņģis in the summer of 2024 to avoid the NBA’s second-apron luxury-tax penalties.
Holiday, 35, missed two months this season with a right calf strain and has been on a minutes restriction since returning two weeks ago. He finished with 14 points in 24 minutes against his former club and exchanged hugs with several ex-teammates afterward.
“It’s just like family,” he said. “You spend so much time with them that they become family, and then suddenly you’re on a different team. It’s always good to see them.”
The former first-round pick has previously suited up for Philadelphia, New Orleans and Milwaukee. Changing uniforms no longer surprises him, although former Celtics center Robert Williams III admitted Boston’s 2023 decision to send him to Portland in the deal for Holiday caught him off guard.
“Everybody’s first trade is kind of a rough one,” Williams said. He watched the 2024 Finals from home, wrestling with mixed emotions while the club that drafted him claimed the championship.
Despite playing this season without injured star Jayson Tatum (Achilles tendon), Boston leads the Atlantic Division and occupies the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference, leaving open the possibility of Tatum’s return for the postseason.
Source: ESPN
