Jrue Holiday has certainly had an eventful year since being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2020 offseason.
Since coming aboard, the combo guard has racked up another First Team All-Defense selection, an Olympic gold medal, and of course, an NBA championship. After being categorized by many as the league’s most underrated player for the past several years, watching Holiday’s efforts throughout Milwaukee’s title run undoubtedly earned him some more well-deserved recognition from players and fans alike.
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Yet, this is just the beginning for Holiday and the Bucks as they have him secured for the next four years on a deal that could pay him up to $160 million. With that set to officially kick in next season, Holiday is just getting started, and there are hopefully big things ahead.
It will unquestionably be hard to top the year he just had with several accolades being added to his glowing resume, but here are three goals he should aim to achieve during the 2021-22 NBA season.
Goal No. 1 – Jrue Holiday earning All-Star nod with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2021-22 season
Despite Holiday’s high-end play throughout his ongoing 12-year career, he only has one All-Star nomination to his name. That came all the way back during the 2012-13 season when the guard was still suiting up for the Philadelphia 76ers, and after years of missing out on the opportunity, he could finally get his second nod this coming season with the Bucks.
As the third option behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton — the latter being robbed of an All-Star nomination last year — Holiday’s numbers were still solid. In 59 games last season, the guard averaged 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game but still did not receive much consideration for a spot on the 2021 All-Star Reserves list. Part of that certainly had to do with the vast plethora of talent at the guard position within the Eastern Conference, such as Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Bradley Beal, and many more.
While those talented players will not be going anywhere next season, Holiday’s case to make his second-ever All-Star game will be strong if he can sustain this high-end play next season. Along with his fantastic numbers, the guard will be playing for one of the premier contenders in the East, and that newly-fitted championship ring should help him get more consideration if he does indeed show out next year.
Holiday is certainly not focused on individual goals such as this one in the bigger picture, but if he does have a great start to the season, this would be a commendable way to recognize his efforts.