Giannis Antetokounmpo Gives Emotional Take On Jrue Holiday Trade

Giannis Antetokounmpo was not happy to see Jrue Holiday be traded to bring Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.

5 Min Read

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

• Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke to Chris Haynes about losing Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard

• Giannis said he loves Jrue like family in an NSFW rant about how former teammate

• The message was emotional and positive, claiming Holiday will thrive no matter where he ends up

Giannis Antetokounmpo may have gotten Damian Lillard on his team, but it was at the cost of Jrue Holiday, the first star point guard the Bucks traded most of their future for. Holiday won a title in his first season with the Bucks and was massively loved by the franchise.

Giannis sent an emotional parting message about Jrue while talking to Chris Haynes, expressing his sadness over losing his ‘brother for life’. 

“Jrue is my f–king brother for life. I love his family. I love him. I appreciate him. I wish him nothing but the best. He blessed me with a f–king championship. He’s the one who made that huge steal in Game 5 of the Finals. I went to battle with him multiple times. F–k basketball. F–k the media shit. This guy is my brother for life, and it’s always going to be like that. He’s going to thrive wherever he ends up.”

Holiday was sent to the Portland Trail Blazers in the deal but is expected to be rerouted somewhere else for more assets. Holiday is arguably the best two-way guard in the NBA and contenders are already lining up to make a deal happen. 

The Lakers, Clippers, and Heat are among the front-runners, but the Celtics and 76ers will also be in the race to acquire the former champion. Holiday averaged xxx last season.


The Bucks Didn’t Consult Giannis Before Trading Jrue Holiday

Usually, when major trades are made, teams like to consult their star players before changing the fabric of their franchise. The Bucks did the opposite, keeping Giannis in the dark because they didn’t want him to deal with the emotional dilemma of signing off on a Holiday trade, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.

“Directly, he literally played no role. In fact, Jon Horst did not bring this trade idea or sign off on it to Giannis Antetokounmpo because Jrue Holiday was involved. And the relationship there and the reverence that this organization and these players have for Holiday. He did not want to put that to Giannis Antetokounmpo and have him have that on his conscious necessarily that he might sign off or not sign off on it.”

The Bucks did the right thing, given Giannis had previously been interested in playing alongside Lillard. Now that he’s gotten that chance at the expense of a club legend who just spent three seasons with them, he has to make the most of it.


Giannis Looking Forward To Winning Alongside Damian Lillard

Antetokounmpo opened up on the trade, stressing the importance of going and winning the championship now that Lillard is on the squad.

“It’s a bittersweet day for the city of Milwaukee. You get Dame, who is a great player, but you lose a great guy. Jrue took us to the promised land. I’m 10 years in now. I know it’s a business… We’ve got to focus on the goal to win the championship. Dame wants this. He’s hungry to win, and he’s going to push us. I’m very happy to have him on our team.”

Giannis will form the biggest one-two punch in the NBA alongside Lillard, as this trade ensures the Bucks have one player who is capable of providing superstar-level offense at all times. Khris Middleton is a fantastic go-to option in the clutch, but very few players can be better than Lillard.

He averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists with the Blazers last season and will be looking to supercharge the Bucks scoring as they march toward a title this season.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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