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Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday were part of arguably the biggest off-season trade that rocked the entire basketball world earlier this year. Both point guards are facing each other a day before Thanksgiving, with both their teams sitting at the top of the NBA Eastern Conference standings.
So far, so good for both players who landed on teams that are now competing for an NBA championship.
The Milwaukee Bucks had a rough start to the season getting acquainted with Damian Lillard, and they got their rhythm going by winning their last five games. They are second behind the Boston Celtics in the East standings with a 10-4 record.
Meanwhile, the Celtics have been faster on the learning curve in integrating their new key pieces into the rotation as they lead the East with an 11-3 record. They tasted their third defeat in their last game against the Charlotte Hornets but it took overtime minutes for their opponents to pull off a win.
In the 12 games that Damian Lillard has played so far, he has averaged 24.6 points, 6.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals. He also shot 92% from the free-throw line and gave his team 2.8 three-pointers per night.
Jrue Holiday finally speaks out after Damian Lillard trade
Since the trade happened, Jrue Holiday has eluded questions regarding the Milwaukee Bucks trading him for Damian Lillard. Right before the two teams took on each other, Holiday spoke to a scrum of reporters and shared his thoughts.
"I think that they got what they wanted, so I can't be mad at that," Holiday said (via NBC Sports).
However, Holiday added that the Bucks, whom he won a championship in 2021, could have given him a heads-up. Nonetheless, he now feels that his career is in a good place to win another championship.
"A warning would've been cool, but other than that I'm in the best place that I can be to compete against them," Holiday adds.
Holiday was initially traded to the Portland Trail Blazers via a three-way trade that included Damian Lillard and DeAndre Ayton. Four days later, the Celtics traded for him in exchange for Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon.
In the 14 games for the Celtics, Jrue Holiday has been able to provide 12.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.0 blocks a night. His best performance was two a rebound shy of a triple-double against the Brooklyn Nets with 18 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds.
