If only one thing was clear Athletic An anonymous player poll, is that players love Jrue Holiday.
The players voted Holiday the best defender in the league, and then mentioned his name more often than any other when discussing sports’ most underrated players. Perhaps if Holiday gets one of the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) nominations, others around the league won’t feel he’s been left out.
He received 28.7% of the 98 votes cast, far more than the total of the three finalists for this year’s award: teammate Brook Lopez (8.9%), Jarren Jackson Jr. (4%) and Evan Mobley (3%).
Holiday has yet to win a DPOY despite being one of the best defenders in the league since entering the league. Per data from NBA.comLast season, guard Stephen Curry (36.4%) and center Joel Embiid (30%) each caught under 40% of their shooting at guard.
In order to award NBA awards to voters, Holiday has earned four All-Defensive Team nods during his career, most recently after the 2021-22 season, so his game hasn’t gone completely unnoticed.
In The Athletic, one player described Holiday as “a guy to avoid”. The player went on to explain, “Every offense is looking to get the ball out of place, whether guarding or off the ball. His hands are unbelievable. It’s always been Junior’s holiday to me.”
The Bucks need Holiday to prove their peers right after a shock 130-117 loss in Game 1 against Miami on Sunday. Giannis Antetokounmpo played only 11 minutes after suffering a back injury in the first quarter, but the Heat’s unrealistic offensive performance remains hard to explain.
Miami shot 50-of-84 (59.5%) from the field and 15-of-25 (60%) from three.
The value of vacation has become more prevalent this season with Chris Middleton missing the majority of the season due to injury. According to NBA.com, the trio of Antetokounmpo, Holiday and Middleton have only played 23 games together this season, but the Bucks (58-24) still finished the regular season with the best record in the league.
A seven-time All-Star and two-time MVP, Antetokounmpo receives most of the focus (and with good reason), but it’s safe to say he’s not the only competitive player to keep an eye on.
“What [Holiday] It is unparalleled on a night-by-night basis, the night is on both ends of the field, and it probably goes a little unnoticed under Giannis’ lights.”