Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday has made his presence known during Team USA’s Olympic exhibition matchups. The two-time NBA champion has also made a lasting impression on the Summer League Celtics players.
Holiday’s impact on the younger Celtics players began during Boston’s run to Banner 18 — especially guards JD Davison and Drew Peterson.
Davison said he noticed Holiday’s impact in Boston’s championship run.
“Just how locked in everybody way,” Davison told SB Nation’s Noa Dalzell. “Just how different it was bringing Jrue in, with his championship DNA… just watching that, being in awe.”
Davison spent the last two seasons in the organization as a two-way player, splitting his time between Boston and the Celtics’ G League affiliate Maine.
He averaged 20.8 points and 8.6 assists in 28 games for Maine and played eight games for Boston in the regular season.
Like Davison, Peterson also pointed to Holiday’s impact during the Celtics’ championship run.
“It’s incredible how many massive plays he had with a minute or two left in the game,” Peterson told Dalzell. “You don’t even think about it now. Obviously, you think of the MVPs — JB, JT, all that kind of stuff.”
Peterson played 34 games for the Maine Celtics, averaging 16.1 points, 5.8 assists and 7.3 rebounds in 35.4 minutes of playing time. The 24-year-old said he hangs on every word Holiday speaks.
“He’s such a student of the game. He knows a ton. Obviously, he’s been around the block,” Peterson said. “He knows what it takes to win … second ring and second team doing it. He’s a guy that I’m really trying to take in everything (he says) when I hear him talk.
“Jrue Holiday is such a role model. I learn a ton from him defensively and what it takes to win.”
Jaden Springer is another Celtics guard who looks at Holiday as a role model after Boston acquired the 21-year-old from the Philadelphia 76ers at the NBA trade deadline.
“It’s really just watching. He’ll come to the bench, he’ll talk. I listen to what he has to say,” Springer explained, according to Dalzell. “There are even times I’ll come in with the coaches watch film with him, and watch his workout.”
After being traded to the Celtics, Springer played in 17 games for Boston. He averaged 2.1 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 7.6 minutes.
The Celtics improved to 2-1in Summer League action after defeating the Charlotte Hornets 89-84 on Wednesday night. Davison recorded eight points in the win, while Peterson and Springer didn’t play.
Boston will play the Dallas Mavericks on Friday afternoon. Tip-off from the Pavilion in Las Vegas is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET.
