Jrue Holiday, Loyalty, And His Value To The New Orleans Pelicans

The most boisterous and belligerent fans are not booing, and they are definitely not asking “Whoooo?” when the leader of the New Orleans Pelicans walks on to the court. No, the Smoothie King Center ‘s most loyal and die-hard customers are at their loudest before tip-off when Jrue Holiday takes center stage. More than any other player in team history, they are loyal to Jruuuuuuuueeee.

It is well-earned respect. Throughout his career, Holiday has been one of the most professional in his approach and appreciated by his peers. Holiday was the 2008 National Gatorade Player of the Year, a one-and-done first-round NBA Draft pick of the Philadelphia 76ers, and a 2013 NBA Eastern Conference All-Star during his fourth season. However, his career is marked by misconceptions, underestimations, and overlooked value.

Surplus to Requirements in Philadelphia

Holiday was 22 years old when he signed a four-year, $41 million deal with Philadelphia, which was well short of his $60 million starting point in negotiations. Holiday not only got $5 million less per season than he thought he was worth, but he was also the last player in his draft class to get an extension deal completed.

He was not the biggest priority in Philadephia and wound up signing a team-friendly deal since he had little leverage. Then, after his best season in the league, Holiday was traded to New Orleans to speed up ‘The Process’ on both ends. Philadelphia wanted assets and New Orleans wanted young veterans to help Davis make a playoff run.

The New Orleans Pelicans will soon be faced with the same question as Philadelphia: How much do the Pelicans value Jrue Holiday going forward?

Philadelphia deemed Holiday too old to fit the timeline by a new front-office regime. Holiday negotiated his extension with Dell Demps and Monty Williams, not David Griffin and Trajan Langdon. In gauging Holiday’s value to determine that financial number on the cap sheet requires an evaluation that goes far beyond on-court performance.

Growing Respect For Jrue Holiday

The appreciation for Holiday’s game is growing outside of the city as well. The NBA has taken notice the last few seasons, as Holiday was voted the most underrated talent in the league in an anonymous poll ran by The Athletic.

Holiday provides immeasurable value both on and off the court. He has proven to be a steady voice within the locker room and with the media during times of turmoil and chaos. It would be near-foolish to underestimate that value and assume that Holiday will be easily replaceable based on Player Efficiency Rating stats. Holiday was calming and steady both when Davis demanded a trade and when Williamson came out for his first press conference in New Orleans.

Holiday is arguably the best defensive guard in the NBA. His presence is massive for building the sustained championship culture David Griffin hopes to build. Derrick Favors and JJ Redick came to New Orleans in part because of Holiday’s presence. Holiday has mentioned his preference for building something special in New Orleans rather than looking for a trade to a different playoff contender.

The appreciation and respect for Holiday goes past secretive NBA polling. The All the Smoke Podcast has been littered with NBA stars like Bradley Beal and Trae Young showing love for Holiday’s game. Host Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes agreed that most podcast guests pick the same person for most overlooked: Jrue. All of the underrated and ‘slept on’ comments have only served to raise Holiday’s stature within NBA circles.

A closer look shows that Holiday has always had his admirers. New Orleans traded for him and the LA Clippers were trying to acquire Holiday to pair with Kawhi Leonard. That he was even an option for the Clippers shows a huge level of respect, both from the organization and the players who gave the move their blessing.

Most everyone in the hoops game, casual fan to diehard media member, agrees with just how beloved Holiday has become after seven seasons in the Big Easy. His underdog mentality leads to a junkyard dog mentality on defense, and that energy lifts the team and fans alike. Alvin Gentry is tough on Holiday, asking him to guard LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Gentry leans into letting Holiday take the superstar assignment instead of a team-based containment strategy.

The tactic is simply asking the opposition’s best player: Are you ready for Jrue tonight?

Most of the league agrees. They are not up to the task of matching Holiday’s intensiy, much less is talent. Not many teams have a leader with as much talent, on-court stature, and league-wide respect. Refs do not give Holiday a hard time, for a reason. Keeping Holiday around for the best of the Zion Williamson era would benefit everyone.

Appreciation for Jrue Holiday in New Orleans

Holiday slowly entrenched himself as a team leader and fan-favorite in his first few seasons, but he emerged as the undeniable heartbeat and sole of the team during the 2018 NBA Playoffs. That series sweep victory over the Portland Trail Blazers introduced Kung-Fu Jrue to the world. Holiday has been mentioned on most every overlooked and underrated list ever since.

That success came after a tragic discovery and a life-changing few months. Steven Morphew, Clinical Director for Family Preservation Services of Louisiana, longtime Pelicans’ season ticket holder, and regular on the gameday Dance Cam competitions saw the fanbase rally around Holiday even though he was not on the court. It was a proud moment for the franchise in his opinion.

Morphew explained how “That was an interesting time for fans but I feel like this is where the NBA stands out against NCAA basketball. These are more than just athletes to us. The fans want long-term sustainability. Watching Jrue the person, not the NBA player, need that support during such an unexpected life event, I was proud to be called a Pelicans fan in the way the team and the organization stood behind him. He was deeply missed, but I didn’t hear any buzz around fans wanting him to leave his wife’s side sooner than he did. Just full and complete support true and through.”

The new front office, led by David Griffin, thought Holiday could reach an NBA MVP type of level, with a similar late-blooming trajectory as Steve Nash. Griffin even started the Holiday-for-MVP campaign while working the NBA Summer League media circuit and only got more enthusiastic about the idea once training camp started.

Griffin relayed his message of belief directly. Griffin told Holiday, “You can be the most underrated guard in the league for as long as you want to be, but I’d rather you want to be an MVP.”

Jrue Holiday’s Value In Zion Williamson’s Championship Timeline

Though Holiday is still a fringe All-Star in a stacked Western Conference, he will soon be eligible for over-30 leagues. Holiday signed a five-year, $132 million contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017. His main reason for staying, Anthony Davis, demanded a trade all but publically denouncing the roster as not capable of contending for a low playoff seed. Apparently Davis did not value Holiday as much as the rest of the NBA.

Holiday, the Robin to Davis’ Batman, took the brunt of those statements from Davis. It was a rebuke by Davis of the whole organization, one that could have a slight feeling of buyer’s remorse considering the team thought having Holiday ensured Davis would sign an extension. Worse, Holiday may soon pressure the team for a move to a contender. Then Zion Williamson happened to New Orleans.

When Holiday and Williamson are on the court together, they are both better versions of themselves. Per Pelicans.com, the starting lineup of Lonzo Ball, Jrue Holiday, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and, Derrick Favors had the best net rating in the NBA, dominating the opposition to the tune of 26.3 points per 100 possessions.

Without factoring in the other three players on the court, Holiday and Williamson are still one of the most dynamic duos in the NBA. In 425 minutes together, they have a 14.0 net rating (37th best) and a 67% assist percentage playing at a 107.86 possession pace. Holiday’s game will age just fine as Williamson grows into a leading role, able to create shots instead of waiting for bully ball dump-offs and open court dunks.

Jrue Holiday’s Future In New Orleans

Holiday told The Atheltic’s Will Guillory, “Something I’ve always wanted is to be committed to a team and to grow together. I feel like we’ve got that here.”

Indeed, the opportunity is there for the New Orleans Pelicans and Holiday to grow into championship contenders together. Another extension should be an easy call, according to local sports radio call-in fans. That is not to say this contract extension should be anywhere near a max-level deal. Still, it is more likely New Orleans has to overpay to retain Holiday, rather than him taking a team-friendly deal. It is the nature of the market size, available free agents, and the realities of a lower than expected salary cap.

Small market teams just cannot be percieved as treating good players poorly. Signing free agents is already difficult enough, as is winning once a decent roster is assembled. Signing Holiday to an extension sends the right signals to potential free agents.

Morphew ended our conversation saying, “The feeling in the stands about Jrue are still an intense craving to see him lead his team. It’s easy to get behind the fire that Zion ignites, but it needs to go deeper than Zion hype. The Pelicans need locker room leadership from a veteran. This is still Jrue’s team and his ability to play both sides of the ball with passion and intensity are needed every game to show fans why this doesn’t all just rely on one or two players having an outstanding game every few games. We need consistency and veteran leadership- something that Jrue is in a prime position to provide.”

Only a handful of players every decade can average 20 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds while playing elite defense. Holiday does so, but is still on the fringes of the conversation when discussin the top guards in the league. With the help of Williamson, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans have a core four that will help elevate each other’s game. Ingram made his first All-Star game appearance this season. Williamson will be there soon, and Holiday could get a voting bump into the game based on association alone.

Holiday told CBS after the trade deadline, “I honestly feel like I’m built for this team, and the way that we’ve been able to come together has really been cool… I feel like I’m committed to this team and the players. I know for me personally, I try not to let my teammates down, so every time I come out here I feel like I try to put on my hard hat and my armor and go out there and fight for them.”

For those on-court reasons, and many more, Holiday should eventually see his number 11 jersey hanging from the rafters.

If all goes well, it will hang next to a championship banner.