SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 29: Jrue Holiday #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers rushes the ball up the court during the first half of their game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on October 29, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
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It seems obvious why Jrue Holiday’s second season with the Boston Celtics wasn’t on par with his first one. The two-time All-Star went from a championship run to helping the United States men’s basketball team win gold at the Summer Olympics in France.
He joined Scottie Pippen as the only two players in five decades of USA basketball to twice lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy and win an Olympic gold medal in the same year.
“I was not aware of that,” Holiday told Forbes during an exclusive interview last season. “That’s an honor to be in a class with Scottie Pippen.”
It’s a feat that bolsters his case for enshrinement in the Basketball Hall of Fame. However, a run like that is taxing, especially on the legs. Holiday was still productive last season. He averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals. It’s a testament to how skilled of an all-around player he is. Still, the year before, his numbers were better nearly across the board. He also played in seven more tilts and logged more minutes.
Defensively, it appeared like he was playing with heavier legs than when he earned a spot on the All-Defensive Second Team in 2023-24. At the other end of the floor, he felt virtually automatic on corner threes upon arriving in Boston. But last season, his overall production from behind the arc dipped from converting 4.7 three-point attempts at a 42.7 percent clip to launching 4.9 and making 35.3 percent.
It appeared like the mileage of a marathon year was catching up to him.
“I don’t think you can ever have too much experience, and an experience like the Olympics is amazing,” Holiday told Forbes while discussing the positives and negatives of his limited time to recharge last summer. “Not many people get a chance to experience that, as well as a championship run and winning a championship. So, I’ll never take that for granted.
“Obviously, there could be some downsides, but at the same time, I think as a professional, I’ve done my best to take care of my part, which is to take care of my mental health [and] take care of my body, knowing that the season can be long. [So], trying to stay as healthy as possible and be ready to play each game because, again, a lot of these fans come to watch us play, and they want to see us out there, and especially a part of our team, they want to see their team play. So, I do my best to play every game.”
But now, the 35-year-old is recharged, refreshed, and showing those who tried to write him off did so prematurely.
Jrue Holiday is shining with the Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers sent the 16-year veteran to the Celtics, helping shift the balance of power and allowing the franchise to capture its 18th championship banner. This summer, they jumped at the chance to reacquire him.
In the Pacific Northwest, he’s doing more than mentoring a talented young core that the Trail Blazers hope can lead them into a brighter future. Holiday is averaging 19.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.4 steals in 32.2 minutes through five games.
He’s helping a defense that ranked in the top ten in points allowed after the All-Star break last season. The California native is also giving Portland a needed veteran creator off the dribble, making plays for himself and his teammates off the bounce.
While it’s only five games into the new campaign, the Trail Blazers were well aware of what Jrue Holiday brings to the locker room and his impact in the community. They also must be loving seeing him showcase what an offseason to recharge properly is doing for him on the court.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbykrivitsk/2025/10/30/jrue-holiday-bringing-more-than-mentorship-to-the-trail-blazers/
