Jrue Holiday and Celtics agree to 4-year, $135M Extension
Photo/Sports Illustrated
Just six months ago, Jrue Holiday arrived in Boston in a huge trade that landed the Celtics the talented two-way guard. Holiday had expressed his desire to retire a Buck, then was traded to the Trail Blazers, and then became a Celtic, all within a crazy few days. Now, he’s found a home for the next four years.
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday has agreed on a four-year, $135 million contract extension, his agent, Jason Glushon of Glushon Sports Management, told ESPN on Wednesday. Holiday is declining his $37.3 million player option for 2024-25 to sign a long-term deal that'll take him through the 2027-28 season, Glushon said. The Celtics announced Holiday's extension Thursday but did not disclose financial terms. Holiday's extension saves the Celtics several million dollars on the cap next year and aids in keeping together a talented and expensive core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Holiday that has led the franchise to the NBA's best record this season. With Holiday's extension, the Celtics are destined to operate as a second apron team in 2024-25, restricting their free agency and trade options for exceeding the highest payroll threshold.
Holiday will become the fourth player to sign a guaranteed deal worth more than $100 million at 33 or older -- a list that also includes LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Al Horford.
Photo/David Butler II - USA Today Sports
Holiday's scoring average understandably dropped upon joining the Celtics' starry lineup, but he's shooting a career-best 43% on 3-pointers -- including 62% on corner 3s, which would be the best over a season for any NBA player with 50-plus attempts in the past 25 years. He remains one of the most versatile and accomplished defenders, matching up this season against guards, forwards and centers.
In the midst of his 15th season in the NBA, Holiday is happy to have some future security. “Honestly, it’s a blessing,” Holiday said. “I played—this is my 15th year, I’m 33. I think that the opportunity that God has given me to be able to already play for this many years and then lock it in for more, for me to be healthy, and for an organization just to see me and appreciate what I bring to a team is a blessing for me.”
“I think since I came here, and kind of the situation how I got here, it’s only been love,” Holiday said. “The city of Boston—not only that, but the organization made it super easy for us to kind of navigate and get through a time that was a bit stressful for us. We love the city. We love this organization, the players in it, and what they stand for, doing our best to try to get another banner.”
Photo/Getty Images - Stephen Gosling
Boston has been the best team in the NBA this season by a wide margin. The additions of Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis along with the internal growth of the team and coaching staff has propelled the Celtics to their first 60-win season since 2009. Boston has high hopes heading into the postseason and even higher expectations from the fanbase. The city is itching to see another banner hung at TD Garden. Getting an extension done before the playoffs will allow Holiday and his teammates to focus solely on the task at hand - Banner 18.
