The most underrated champion — defensive anchor of the 2021 Bucks title team and serial Olympic gold medallist.
Jrue Randall Holiday was born in Chatsworth, California in 1990. Philadelphia 76ers selected him 17th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft after one year at UCLA. His 15-season career has produced one All-Star appearance and consistently elite defensive performances that statistics cannot fully capture. He was named to the All-NBA Defensive Second Team three times. He won the NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, where his defensive intensity on Devin Booker and Chris Paul in the Finals was a decisive factor. His steal with 1.5 seconds remaining in Game 5 — followed by a lob pass to Giannis Antetokounmpo for a slam dunk that sealed the game — is one of the most celebrated plays in recent Finals history. He won Olympic gold with the USA in 2020 and 2024. He was traded to Boston in 2023 in a significant deal and immediately contributed to the Celtics winning the 2024 championship. He took a leave of absence from basketball in 2014 when his wife Lauren Holiday, a professional soccer player, was diagnosed with a brain tumour during pregnancy — a decision universally praised for its humanity. He has been one of the most reliable two-way guards in the NBA for over a decade.
Elite two-way guard known for exceptional defense and clutch playoff performances
How They Played
Two-way point guard with elite perimeter defense, steady playmaking, and clutch shooting
Lasting Impact
One of the best defensive guards of his era, key contributor to Milwaukee's 2021 championship
NBA Champion (2021)
Career Honours
- NBA Champion (2021)
- All-Star 1x
- All-NBA Defensive Second Team 3x
- Olympic Gold Medal 2x