Fifteen years after beginning his storied professional career, former UCLA Bruins star guard Jrue Holiday remains one of the NBA's elite talents.
As such, and given his previous experience, it's no surprise that the 6'4″ Boston Celtics combo guard will once again be active for his country. He will play for head coach Steve Kerr in this summer's tournament. Ready to play on the 12-man Team USA team at the Paris Olympics, according to a press release from UCLA.
Holiday previously coached Team USA during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021 after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic) under then-assistant coach Kerr and head coach Gregg Popovich. He was playing alongside another one-time former player. Bruin and current Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine.
Lavigne has recovered from surgery and is currently active with his team, but was unable to play this time.
But Holliday will be joining an impressive cast of characters. He is a member of Miami Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo, Phoenix Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, Los Angeles Lakers All-Stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James, He will play with the All-Star shooting guard of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards, Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid, Indiana Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, Los Angeles Clippers All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard, Celtics teammate Jason・Tatum.
Embiid and Leonard are already struggling to play due to lingering injuries in the ongoing playoffs. It's questionable whether they'll be on the roster by summer.
Before being drafted 19th overall in 2009 by the Philadelphia 76ers, Holiday averaged 8.5 points, .450/.307/.726 shooting splits, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 35 games during the 2008-09 season. Was.
This year, as part of a 64-18 Boston team that is the No. 1 overall seed in the league, Holiday averaged 12.5 points, .480/.429/.833 shooting splits, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in a healthy 69 games. .
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