NBA players believe Jrue Holiday is the league's best defender

An anonymous poll by The Athletic shows that Jrue Holiday continues to be underappreciated as a defender.

© Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA’s official awards are decided by votes cast by prominent members of the media. And while that’s well and good, getting the nod from your fellow NBA players feels a little more special. After all, these are the people you battle with on a nightly basis all season long. 

That said, Milwaukee Bucks All-Star guard Jrue Holiday was named the league’s best defender in an anonymous poll conducted by The Athletic, receiving 28.7% of the vote from more than 100 players surveyed.

Lofty recognition

The 14-year pro is a supremely-talented basketball player who often goes under the radar—playing under the massive shadow of two-time MVP Giannis Anteokounmpo in Milwaukee does that to you—but his peers are clearly away of the incredible impact he has on defense.

A four-time member of the NBA’s All-Defense team, Holiday almost always draws the task of defending the opposing team’s very best perimeter threat. Whether that’s Devin Booker, Steph Curry, Jaylen Brown, or other stars, Holiday is always up to the challenge.

Versatility on defense

One NBA player who was asked to participate in the poll explained that Holiday’s ability to guard different positions—whether it’s a sleek guard or a bulky post player—puts him head and shoulders above the rest.

“I think it’s Jrue Holiday because he can guard multiple guys. He can switch onto one through five,” said the anonymous NBA player.

Bucks center Brook Lopez, who was the runner-up to this year’s Defensive Player of the Year award, and Giannis also received votes from their peers. Interestingly, this year’s DOPY, Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies, received only 4% of the votes.