Ex-Celtics Guard Jrue Holiday Has Been Terrific For Trail Blazers

The biggest story surrounding the Portland Trail Blazers this fall has undoubtedly been the gambling scandal involving head coach Chauncey Billups and others that rocked the NBA recently.

Amid the controversy, Portland has started the season a somewhat surprising 3-2 and behind much of the (very) early season success has been former Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday.

Following two seasons with the Celtics, Holiday was traded to the Trail Blazers in June in exchange for a package that included guard Anfernee Simons.

Some questioned Portland for its decision to acquire a 35-year-old coming off a down year, but thus far, Holiday has been sensational for his new team.

A trio of NBA experts for The Athletic discussed the league’s “early-season surprises” on Thursday and staff writer Law Murray tabbed Holiday as the Western Conference player that’s been the biggest surprise so far.

“Perhaps I was too used to the Boston Celtics guard who was happy to let all of his co-starters touch the ball more than he did. I wasn’t thinking about Holiday as anything close to a difference-maker in Portland’s offense, but Holiday has combined his rare brand of cerebral-yet-disruptive defense with owning his space as a true point guard for the Trail Blazers,” Murray wrote. “Portland’s offense hasn’t been good in years, yet it has been acceptable to begin the season under Holiday’s steady hand.”

The two-time NBA champion dropped drastically down ESPN’s “NBA Rank” list in September, falling from No. 36 last year to 91st this fall.

Holiday’s Portland career got off to an inauspicious start, as he scored 14 points and shot 5-for-15 from the field in the team’s season-opening loss vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He’s been terrific since then, especially over the last three contests where he’s recorded at least 21 points, six assists and five rebounds each time out.

The 2025-26 campaign is still in its infancy, but Holiday’s currently averaging 19.6 points, 7.8 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 32.2 minutes per game across five contests.

Holiday’s scoring numbers are his highest since the 2018-19 season when he was still with the New Orleans Pelicans, his assist figures are his best since the 2013-14 campaign and his rebounding is tied for a career high.

On top of that, the 2009 draft pick is shooting a career-best 51.4% from the floor.

Holiday will make his much-anticipated return to the TD Garden on Dec. 28.