Jrue Holiday Shares His Perspective on First Matchup vs. Bucks Since They Traded Him

Wednesday's potential Eastern Conference Finals preview between the Celtics and Bucks represents Jrue Holiday's first chance to face his former team.

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The Milwaukee Bucks heard Giannis Antetokounmpo loud and clear when he told the following to Tania Ganguli of The New York Times about potentially signing a contract extension with the franchise he led to a championship in 2021.

"I would not be the best version of myself if I don't know that everybody's on the same page, everybody's going for a championship, everybody's going to sacrifice time away from their family like I do. And if I don't feel that, I'm not signing."

A month later, they acquired Damian Lillard, the closer they've never had and someone who could potentially team with Antetokounmpo to form the most potent offensive tandem in the NBA.

The move persuaded the two-time MVP to sign an extension before this season started.

But it also sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, who rerouted him to Milwaukee's chief competitor in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics.

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"They got what they wanted." - Jrue Holiday

Time will tell who got the better of these landscape-altering trades. But while the Bucks are adjusting to Antetokounmpo's new co-star and first-year head coach Adrian Griffin, after a rocky start, they're 10-4 with a chance to enjoy Thanksgiving atop the standings in the East with a win at TD Garden Wednesday night.

As for the hosts of what has a distinct possibility of proving an Eastern Conference Finals preview, despite stumbling in the second half of a surprising overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets, falling 121-118, they've won six of their last seven games and at 11-3, they boast the NBA's best record.

When asked how motivated he is for Wednesday's matchup, his first chance to face his former team, Holiday seemed genuine when he expressed the following to Inside The Celtics.

"About as motivated as any other game. Obviously, this is one of the top teams in the East. So, just see, kind of, where we test out and how it goes."

What about what unfolded on Monday, including Boston going scoreless in the final two minutes of regulation and squandering a nine-point lead; does the agitating nature of that defeat serve as added fuel as the C's try to bounce back on Wednesday?

"I think we learn from it and move on," said the former UCLA Bruin. "Different opponent this game, different type of team, and that's something that we've got to lock into."

The two-time All-Star also addressed whether the passing of time has impacted his perspective of the trade in any way.

"I think it's been about the same (as) once I got traded," he stated. "We do know that this is a business, and from a business standpoint, I'm in a very good position to be where I want to be, and that's win a championship. So again, (I'm) still happy to be here. None of that has ever changed. So, yeah, I wouldn't say anything's changed."

As for how Holiday would describe his time in Milwaukee:

"It was a good time. I won a championship, made some friends, made some family members, and it will always have a piece of my heart."

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrate after winning Game 5 vs. the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals.

But did the Bucks' decision they're championship pursuit is better off with Lillard than with him put a chip on his shoulder?

"No, I think that they got what they wanted," conveyed Holiday. "So, I can't be mad at that. Warning would have been cool. But other than that, I'm in the best place that I can be to compete against them for the top team in the East and then hopefully (the) top team in the league."

With the California native calmly answering one question after another about Milwaukee parting with him and his first chance to face his former team, he got asked if he believes the media's making too big a deal of the matter.

To which Holiday quipped:

"A lot of the time. A lot of the time. Most of the time. It's not like I circled this one on my calendar or anything. I think that this is a big game because of the two teams that are playing, because of the caliber of players that are on the court, and all that. So, that's what I would like for it to be about, not me playing against the Bucks."

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