Jrue Holiday – Milwaukee Bucks
Ahead of the 2020-21 season, the Milwaukee Bucks went “all-in” on contending for a championship, which is why they gave up a ton of assets to acquire Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans. The veteran guard has been known for years to be one of the premier two-way guards in the entire league and throughout the regular season, he was that third key option for the Bucks next to Antetokounmpo and Middleton.
Holiday put together a really solid regular season, averaging 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals, but he really struggled early on in the playoffs. His scoring numbers were below his season average and Jrue Holiday was not shooting the ball well at all, but things have seemed to be clicking as of late.
In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Hawks, Holiday averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 46.4% from the floor. With Giannis being out the Bucks’ last two games, the vetran point guard has really stepped up for the Bucks as a primary ball-handler, as well as an all-around playmaker.
In Game 5 against the Hawks, Holiday had 25 points, 6 rebounds and 13 assists, and then in Game 6, Holiday scored 27 points while adding 9 rebounds and 9 assists to his name. He also had 5 total steals across these two games to help Milwaukee punch their tickets to the NBA Finals.
Jrue Holiday is playing the best basketball he has played since becoming a member of the Milwaukee Bucks and this is right on the horizon of the NBA Finals. Granted Atlanta had not defended point guards at a high-level all season long, Holiday is finally making plays and seeing the ball go through the basket, which may be all he needs to sustain his own high-level of play.
READ MORE: Previewing the 2021 NBA Finals between the Bucks and Suns
With Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status unknown for the start of this series and Giannis likely to not be at 100% if he takes the court, Holiday will have to continue making plays for the Bucks on both ends of the floor, which is why he could very well end up being named Finals MVP if the Milwaukee Bucks are to capture the title.
Two-Way players always get a ton of recognition from the media voters in Finals MVP voting and given his abilities to score at a high-level as well, he could end up being the x-factor in this series against the Suns. Milwaukee traded for Jrue Holiday before this season with the mindset that he was the missing piece for them and being named Finals MVP would sure prove this philosophy.
