Jaylen Brown is the 2024 NBA Finals MVP.
Brown did it on both ends of the floor in the Boston Celtics’ Finals victory over the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and five assists while doing his best to slow down the virtually unguardable Luka Doncic.
Few would argue Boston’s dynamic two-way guard didn’t deserve the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP trophy for the championship series’ best overall player.
But the Celtics’ most underrated superstar – Jrue Holiday – might be the team’s actual most valuable player, and after winning his second NBA championship he should be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame.
The Celtics’ president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, has made a number of bold roster moves over the past few seasons that have now paid huge dividends with the C’s long-awaited and record-breaking 18th championship banner.
The acquisition of Derrick White from the San Antonio Spurs in 2022 and the trade for Kristaps Porzingis last year, at the expense of fan favorite Marcus Smart, were particularly savvy decisions.
But the final piece of the Celtics’ championship puzzle was landing Holiday in September 2023, who had found himself in Portland as part of the three-team deal that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks – Holiday’s previous team.
Holiday had long been respected as the best defender in the league with the ability to guard any position.
His stifling defense on Chris Paul was a major reason why the Bucks won the 2021 title against the Phoenix Suns.
Despite his defensive steel and championship experience, the Bucks decided to move on from Holiday in order to pave the way for Dame Time to come to Wisconsin.
Holiday reportedly only found out he’d been traded from the Bucks after waking up from a nap.
His time in Portland was short-lived, though. Within four days of his trade, Stevens struck and sent Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon, and two future first-round draft picks to the Blazers in exchange for Holiday.
The Bucks were immediately blasted for indirectly allowing an Eastern Conference rival to land a major weapon that only a few weeks earlier was part of their roster.
Holiday relocating to Massachusetts instantly moved the needle and elevated the Celtics to championship favorites.
His selflessness and willingness to sacrifice his own offensive game allowed stars like Brown and Jayson Tatum to flourish and resulted in the Celtics securing a league-best 64-18 regular season record.
In the playoffs, the Celtics went 16-2 and Jrue continued to make big play after big play.
In Boston’s Game 1 Eastern Conference Finals win over the Indiana Pacers, Holiday finished with 28 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals in his coming out game as a Celtic.
Other clutch moments soon followed, including a Game 3 clinching steal against the Pacers.
Night after night he would lock up the opposition’s best player while fulfilling a vital role as a play-maker and spot-up shooter.
His Game 2 performance against the Mavs was arguably the best in the entire series.
Holiday scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 105–98 victory, becoming the first guard to produce at least 25 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 75% or better from the floor in an NBA Finals game.
In the end, the Mavs were no match for the super-charged Celtics, who completed the gentleman’s sweep of Dallas on Monday night with a 106-88 Game 5 win.
Holiday averaged just under 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists on 53/42/100 shooting splits, becoming the first player in NBA Finals history to average 10+ points and 5+ rebounds while shooting 50/40/100.
However, much of what Holiday brings to the table doesn’t show up in the stats sheet.
Lockdown defense, leadership, and an eagerness to do the dirty work can’t be quantified in a neat little box score.
But, as a now two-time NBA champion, serious conversations need to be had about Holiday’s Hall of Fame credentials.
Individual accolades certainly bolster his case.
He is a two-time NBA champion, two-time All-Star and has made three All-Defensive First Teams and three All-Defensive Second Teams.
He was also crucial in the USA Basketball Men’s National Team winning the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics and is part of Team USA expected to win gold at the upcoming 2024 Olympics in Paris.
So far, Deron Williams is the only two-time Olympic gold medallist to fail to make it to the Hall of Fame.
Statistically, Holiday’s Hall of Fame worthiness leaves a little to be desired.
The 34-year-old has played 15 seasons in The Association for four teams, averaging 16.1 points, 6.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 975 regular-season games.
Good numbers but certainly not Hall of Fame ones.
But not everyone inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has to be Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson or Larry Bird.
You could argue the likes of Bill Bradley, Maurice Cheeks and Calvin Murphy had similar careers to Holiday, and their names are forever enshrined at 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue in Springfield, Massachusetts.
After all, unlike the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has a much lower bar for entry for those hoping to be immortalized.
Many of Holiday’s intangible qualities are only truly appreciated by his peers and those that played the game.
NBA legend and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller recently said that he thinks Holiday is nailed on to join him in the Hall of Fame one day.
“I think Jrue Holiday, at the end of the day, will have a resume a lot like Joe Dumars’,” the Pacers icon told The Dan Patrick Show.
“We’re seeing the value of Jrue Holiday and why he’s always the first person picked on the Olympics team because he can guard one through four.”
If elite defense, hustle and communication were weighted the same as scoring and offensive efficiency, Holiday might have two Finals MVPs on his resume.
But even without those honors, he’s still enjoyed a Hall of Fame career even if he were to retire today.
A gold medal this summer and another title with the Celtics – who are the bookies’ early favorites – next season, would put his case beyond all doubt.
News Summary:
- Boston Celtics’ most underrated superstar is a guaranteed Hall of Famer – and it’s not Jayson Tatum or NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown
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