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Former Bruin Jrue Holiday a Steady Force in NBA

Holiday played just one season in Westwood, but has made the most of his opportunities


  By LaMarr Fields, SuperWest Sports

June 19, 2021



Jrue Holiday and the Milwaukee Bucks face the Atlanta Hawks in the Conference Finals, and the ex-UCLA star is one of only five former Pac-12 players remaining in the NBA Playoffs.

Holiday has also committed to play on the U.S. Olympic basketball team in Tokyo.

In anticipation of the Nets’ series with the Hawks, let’s take a quick look back at his college and professional career.


College Career
UCLA Bruins
Jrue Holiday as a Bruin. | UCLA Athletics

Recruited as a Rivals 5-star prospect out of Campbell Hall High School in North Hollywood, Calif., Holiday played just one season in Westwood (2008-09).

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound point guard made the most of his opportunity, however, earning Pac-10 All-Freshman honors before declaring for the draft.

In 35 games with the Bruins, Holiday averaged 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.6 steals while averaging 27.1 minutes per game.

He also shot 45% from the field and 30.7% from beyond the arc, putting up a career-high 20 points against Florida International, while helping UCLA to a 26-9 record and a Second-Round NCAA Tournament appearance.


NBA Career
Philadelphia 76ers
Holiday as a Philadelphia 76er | Bleacher Report

Holiday was selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, and averaged eight points per game as a rookie.

On February 2, 2011, he recorded his first career triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists against the New Jersey Nets.

Holiday logged another triple-double against the Phoenix Suns in 2013.

That same year, he scored a career-high 35 points against the New York Knicks, capping a fantastic season that landed him his first All-Star Game appearance.

New Orleans Pelicans
Jrue Holiday as a New Orleans Pelican | Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

In July, 2013, Holiday was traded to New Orleans for a First-Round pick.

While with the Pelicans in 2016, Holiday topped his previous career-high of 35 points with a 38-point outing against the Charlotte Hornets.

Holiday enjoyed seven outstanding seasons with New Orleans, averaging 17.6 points and 6.8 assists per game, including a career-high average 21.2 points per game during the 2018-2019 season.

Milwaukee Bucks
Holiday as a Milwaukee Buck | skysports.com

On November 24, 2020, Holiday was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a four-team trade involving the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The day after the trade, he agreed to a four-year contract with the Bucks worth up to $160 million, with an option for the 2021-22 season valued at $26 million.

The Bucks acquired Holiday as the final piece to their championship puzzle, based his outstanding resume: In 12 seasons, he has averaged 16.0 points and 6.4 assists per game, shooting 45% from the field and 35% from three.

Known an outstanding two-way player on defense as well as on offense, Holiday has been selected to the NBA All-Defensive squad twice, once each on the First and Second Teams.

By all indications, the former UCLA standout has many more NBA years left, and should only continue to improve.

A win over the Nets today would go a long way toward cementing his already stellar pro legacy.

LaMarr Fields