In the final game of the regular season, Jrue Holiday had his easiest assignment yet.
After starting for the opening tip-off, Holiday committed a foul just 8 seconds into the game… and never saw the court again.
At first glance, it can be called a highly bizarre and pointless move. In reality, it was a genius and low-risk play that ensured Holiday pocketed a $306,000 bonus for playing 67 games this season,
Jrue Holiday commits a foul 8 seconds into the game and is subbed out.
He is all smiles.
$306K in his pocket on the #Bucks bench.
— Jim Owczarski (@JimOwczarski) April 10, 2022
The lone pending bonus for the final day of the regular season:
Jrue Holiday
$306K
Games played (67) and average rebounds >3.15
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) April 10, 2022
Jrue Holiday started for the Bucks today so he could reach 67 games played and secure a $306,000 bonus 💰
Holiday played eight seconds before committing a foul and heading to the bench https://t.co/131ivz1q6l
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 10, 2022
Bonuses are a natural component of almost every NBA-level contract. It’s designed to help incentivize a player to reach certain milestones throughout the season. Admittedly, these bonuses don’t always lead to the best results.
Moe Harkless, for example, once refused to attempt threes during a game so he could secure a $500,000 bonus for shooting at least 35.0% from downtown.
More recently, Celtics star Jayson Tatum lost out on over $30 million after he failed to earn his bonus for making an All-NBA team.
“I know I should’ve made it,” Tatum would later recall. “Just, I guess, with the season I had. I mean, $33 million is a lot. Obviously that would make anybody feel some type of way. I wasn’t necessarily upset about losing the money. I just felt like the way I was playing, everything I did, I thought it should’ve been a no-brainer. I think I was more frustrated with that.”
Fortunately, Holiday was able to take advantage of his bonus, and there is no doubt he will enjoy being a couple hundred thousand dollars richer. Still, he’s still got his eyes set on a bigger prize.
Just a year ago, Holiday was there for the biggest moment in Bucks history, when he and Giannis Antetokounmpo brought the Larry O’Brien to Wisconsin for the first time in 50 years.
This summer, the Bucks will look to do it again and forever cement their place in basketball history. For Jrue, it would mean becoming a 2x Champion and securing a $300K bonus all in a single season. Seriously, what more could you ask for?
