Jrue Holiday has agreed to a four-year, $135 million contract extension with the Boston Celtics, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Holiday is a defensive stud who has essentially served as an upgrade over the Celtics’ previous defensive-minded guard, Marcus Smart. Now, with just days left in the regular season, the two sides agreed to an extension that will keep Holiday in Boston through the 2027-28 season. Holiday had a $37.3 million player option for next season, but he will decline it.
The Celtics acquired Holiday in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers last October, sending out Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III, a 2024 first-round pick and 2029 unprotected first-round pick in exchange for the two-time All-Star.
Holiday has appeared in 68 games this season, averaging 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.0 threes, .9 steals and .8 blocks while shooting 48.1% from the field, 43.1% from three-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line. Throughout his 15-year NBA career, Holiday has averaged 16.1 points, 6.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 threes and 1.4 steals on 46.3/37.1/78.4 shooting splits.
The Celtics are having one of the best regular seasons in NBA history, with a league-best 62-17 record. Their success can be attributed to how well their pieces fit together. With a starting five that also contains Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis, Holiday can focus on defense and hustle plays. This extension ensures that their core will remain intact, as Tatum, Brown, Holiday, White, Porzingis and Al Horford are all under contract for next season.
Holiday helped the Milwaukee Bucks win an NBA championship in 2021, so he also provides ample playoff experience. He's a two-time All-Star, five-time All-Defensive Team selection, three-time NBA Teammate of the Year and NBA Sportsmanship Award winner.
While Holiday is thriving in Boston, Smart has played just 20 games this season as he’s dealt with a finger injury.
Wojnarowski notes that Holiday is just the fourth player age-33 or older who has signed a fully guaranteed deal worth more than $100 million, joining LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Horford.
