After hitting his ninth point of the game against the New York Knicks on Monday night, Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday joined an elite group of players who have surpassed 15,000 career points. Only 146 other players have ever reached 15K, with only 19 of them still active.
Holiday is also the eighth active player to reach 15,000 points and 5,000 assists, joining LeBron James, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, Kyle Lowry, and Mike Conley.
Holiday’s illustrious career began in the 2009-10 season. Holiday, who was picked in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers, made an immediate impact on the squad, cracking the starting lineup in 53 games.
It didn’t take long for fans across the league to notice Holiday’s performance. At barely 22 years old, he earned his first All-Star selection in his fourth season, averaging 17.7 points on 43.1 percent shooting, 8.0 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.
After four years with the Sixers, Holiday was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, where he developed into an excellent two-way player. Holiday was still putting on a show offensively, averaging 17.6 points on 46.2 percent shooting, 6.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals a game over his seven-year tenure in New Orleans.
Holiday was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster transaction after the 2019-20 season. Holiday helped Giannis Antetokounmpo win his first NBA title in his debut season with the Bucks. Holiday’s averages improved over his three years in Milwaukee, as he averaged 18.5 points on 49.4 percent shooting, 6.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. Holiday was also named to his second All-Star team in the 2022-23 season.
Prior to the start of this season, the Celtics chose to deal Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and two first-round selections to acquire Holiday, instantly making Boston the favorite to win the NBA Finals. In order to aid his teammates, Holiday has evolved into a playmaking defender, attempting to facilitate the offense while also making game-winning defensive plays.
Holiday has averaged 12.8 points on 44.1 percent shooting, 5.9 assists, and a career-high 7.3 rebounds in his first nine games in Boston.