Trading for Jrue Holiday was a big move for the Milwaukee Bucks. Initially, nobody believed that adding the point guard would help the team compete for a championship, but Holiday proved the doubters wrong.
Little by little, he earned the fans' trust with his defensive performances and his clutch interventions. Holiday was an excellent acquisition for the Bucks, and Giannis Antetokounmpo knew that very well.
Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry recently revealed how impactful Holiday was for the team and Giannis as soon as he landed in Milwaukee. The former New Orleans Pelicans point guard made a big impression on the Greek Freak, which Lasry believes played a huge role in Giannis' decision to sign a massive contract extension with the Bucks.
“You know, I remember the first practice and Jrue is covering Giannis. And same thing — Giannis knew Jrue by reputation. After practice that day, Jon [Bucks GM] says to me, ‘Yeah, Giannis now knows how good he is. (Holiday’s) covering him. He’s good.’ It was actually great. It was. And I think 100 percent it was a huge factor in Giannis re-signing because he saw what we were willing to do,” Lasry told The Athletic.
Giannis signed the largest contract in NBA history, making it clear he wasn't going anywhere. A lot of fans criticized him for staying with a team that constantly underperformed in the playoff.
Well, that decision paid off for the 2x NBA MVP. He's now an NBA champion after beating the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 Finals. Holiday and Antetokounmpo made incredible plays to seal the deal for his team, including a steal in Game 5 that gave the Bucks the advantage they needed to win the series at home.
The Bucks' offseason moves were criticized around the league. Still, they really helped the franchise turn things around and win their first NBA title in 50 years, with Giannis and Jrue playing a big role in that.
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