Jrue Holiday. Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

All-Star PG expressed desire to retire with Bucks, then was traded

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 9/27/23

Point guard Jrue Holiday recently expressed his desire to retire with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Those hopes were dashed on Wednesday, as the two-time All-Star was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers as a part of a three-team deal with the Phoenix Suns that saw fellow point guard Damian Lillard land in Milwaukee.

Jrue Holiday says he wants to retire a Milwaukee Buck

“I don’t want to play for any other team. I think we have a chance to continue to do great things as the Bucks team and organization so I want to be in Milwaukee.”

(Via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) pic.twitter.com/T9OFUf7neU
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 26, 2023

Lillard goes Milwaukee as part of a 3-team deal with Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a 2029 unprotected MIL 1st, and unprotected MIL swap rights in 2028 and 2030 to Blazers. Phoenix lands Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson. https://t.co/Ge0H91AiIA
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 27, 2023

Holiday may not be staying in Rip City long, however, as ESPN Adrian Wojnarowski further reported that Portland remains "engaged elsewhere on deals" and are "expected to immediately engage contending teams on trade talks to move" the 33-year-old.

Though Holiday will be entering his 15th season this fall, he's arguably been getting better with age.

The UCLA product is coming off of his second All-Star season and posted his highest scoring (19.3 points per game) and assist (7.4) averages in four years, while recording a career high 5.1 rebounds per contest as well.

Holiday played in 67 games (65 starts) during the 2022-23 campaign and averaged 32.6 minutes per contest with a .479/.384/.859 shooting line.

His 85.9% free throw percentage was the best of his career.

Holiday shattered previous single-game career highs in points (51 on March 29), three-pointers (eight on Feb. 14) and rebounds (13 on Jan. 31) and made his third First-Team All-Defensive squad.

The husband of former USWNT forward/midfielder Lauren Holiday and brother of fellow NBA guards Aaron and Justin Holiday has long had a reputation as being one of the most respected players in the Association. Holiday picked up his third Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award following the 2022-23 campaign.

It was Holiday's third time in the last four seasons winning the hardware. Lillard, ironically, captured the award for the 2020-21 season.

More must-reads: