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Last week, when the Milwaukee Bucks pulled off the monster trade that netted them longtime Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard, one of the players that was negatively affected by it was NBA veteran Jrue Holiday.
Holiday, who has played three seasons for the Bucks after spending seven years in New Orleans and four in Philadelphia, was one of the players involved in the deal.
He ended up with the Celtics as part of the convoluted deal that also included the Phoenix Suns when Portland dealt him to Boston just four days later.
Lauren Holiday, Jrue’s wife and a former professional soccer player, would later take to Instagram to air her grievances with the move and how the Bucks handled it.
“Our daughter started 1st grade a month ago. Our son started preschool,” Lauren Holiday wrote. “Our kids go to school with other Bucks children. Their dads walk them in and walk them out together. The other women on the Bucks have been my workout partners, my confidants, and my support system. We have had Bible studies, retreats and shared so many laughs and tears. Not to mention the relationships we have built through our church, our community, and our JLH grantees. All of this is personal to us. It’s our life. There’s no business to any of that.”
“On Wednesday, my husband took a nap. He woke up to news that he had been moved,” she wrote on social media. “No warning, no heads up, not even a conversation that it could be a possibility. Just, it’s done. Now move on because ‘it’s not personal, it’s business.’
“I’m not sharing this to say we are entitled to anything. I’m sharing this to say we are human beings whose kids develop friendships with other kids in our community, we are people who value family and friendships and invest in the cities we play in. We don’t just take from the city we play in, we give to the city we play in and we give our all.
“So, yes, this is more than business,” she continued. “Not because we’re offended by it but, because we are people, we’re humans, we have relationships, dreams and a connection to where we play.”
NBA fans had very mixed reactions to Jrue’s wife Lauren publicly complaining about how her husband found out that he was traded.
“Totally get what she’s saying but that’s why athletes get paid millions, the money doesn’t make the emotion different but it’s suppose to compensate for those hard feelings…pretty sure Jrue & his family will make new relationships in Boston,” one fan wrote in response to Lauren’s message.
“How will they ever survive?” another fan chided. “*checks Jrue’s career earnings. Oh. $219 million? Yea they’ll be fine.”
This is the type of stuff you say when you’re barley making it at $100k and then your company relocates.
Jrue makes millions - his kids kids kids are more than likely retired.
Be a pro and appreciate the blessings that you get paid millions to play basketball. Wife may have…
— Notis Journal (@Official_Notis) October 5, 2023
On the flip side, another fan posted, “She speaking facts tho, not saying every NBA player needs to be notified about a trade, but there is some players that really are key to your team and the city like Jrue was. Those type of players deserve at least a heads up.”
“I feel for her and her family,” another sympathetic fan commented. “A great team takes good care of its player and this involves with clear communication and transparency, which help manage expectations and ease of transition to NBA players when trades occur.”