#MCM- Jrue Holiday, PG, New Orleans Pelicans
@Hoover__26 February 22
Injuries are all too common in professional sports, and basketball is no exception. Countless players have seen their careers succumb to injuries, and numerous others have had their abilities greatly diminished. For a while, it looked as though Jrue Holiday might become another statistic. His career arc seemingly had just began to near it’s peak when he was bit by the injury bug. However, Jrue has returned to become one of the NBA’s most electrifying point guards at a time when the point guard spot seems to be stacked beyond comprehension.
Holiday’s career began in Philadelphia, where some saw him as a (much taller, and considerably less “bony”) new version of Allen Iverson. He averaged 17.7 points and 8 assists in his final year with the Sixers. He was then dealt to the Pels in a draft day trade for Nerlens Noel’s draft rights (classic Sam Hinkie move), reportedly while nursing a pretty severe right leg injury. He has dealt with leg issues for most of his career, which has forced him to average less than 15 PPG total in his three years with New Orleans. However, Holiday’s minutes restriction is loosening as we speak, and he has managed to put on a show for NBA fans of late. Over the last month, Holiday has averaged 20.5 points, 7.6 assists, 3.8 boards and a pair of steals (espn.com). Keep in mind he has only averaged about 30 minutes per game in that stretch, and hasn’t dipped below 40 espn.com fantasy points in his last five games.
Holiday’s measurables are fantastic. He is 6’4”, 205 pounds, with a 6’7” wingspan and blazing speed (even with a right leg that has seen more injuries in six seasons than most players see in their entire careers). He is still only 25 years old (having completed only one season of NCAA ball), and shoots nearly 37% from three for his career. He is also an elite defender when healthy, having averaged between 1.5 and 1.8 steals per game in every one of his NBA seasons (basketball-reference.com). Also, according to sbnation.com, Holiday is the only real player on the Pelicans’ roster that legitimately makes Anthony Davis better. The Brow’s numbers skyrocket when Holiday is on the floor, proving that Jrue is not only a great player on his own, but also a floor general who excels at running the pick-and-roll with a talented big. Those two things, if he can stay healthy, make Holiday an All-Star contender going forward. And, at only 25 years young, who knows what this week’s #MCM could accomplish in his career.
Holiday’s career began in Philadelphia, where some saw him as a (much taller, and considerably less “bony”) new version of Allen Iverson. He averaged 17.7 points and 8 assists in his final year with the Sixers. He was then dealt to the Pels in a draft day trade for Nerlens Noel’s draft rights (classic Sam Hinkie move), reportedly while nursing a pretty severe right leg injury. He has dealt with leg issues for most of his career, which has forced him to average less than 15 PPG total in his three years with New Orleans. However, Holiday’s minutes restriction is loosening as we speak, and he has managed to put on a show for NBA fans of late. Over the last month, Holiday has averaged 20.5 points, 7.6 assists, 3.8 boards and a pair of steals (espn.com). Keep in mind he has only averaged about 30 minutes per game in that stretch, and hasn’t dipped below 40 espn.com fantasy points in his last five games.
Holiday’s measurables are fantastic. He is 6’4”, 205 pounds, with a 6’7” wingspan and blazing speed (even with a right leg that has seen more injuries in six seasons than most players see in their entire careers). He is still only 25 years old (having completed only one season of NCAA ball), and shoots nearly 37% from three for his career. He is also an elite defender when healthy, having averaged between 1.5 and 1.8 steals per game in every one of his NBA seasons (basketball-reference.com). Also, according to sbnation.com, Holiday is the only real player on the Pelicans’ roster that legitimately makes Anthony Davis better. The Brow’s numbers skyrocket when Holiday is on the floor, proving that Jrue is not only a great player on his own, but also a floor general who excels at running the pick-and-roll with a talented big. Those two things, if he can stay healthy, make Holiday an All-Star contender going forward. And, at only 25 years young, who knows what this week’s #MCM could accomplish in his career.