Jrue Holiday's return some good news for Pelicans
NEW ORLEANS – Jrue Holiday felt great when he returned to the court for the New Orleans Pelicans Friday night for the first time in the 2016-17 season.
Then he promptly missed his first shot, a runner in the paint, got called for a foul on the back end after what looked like a steal, and spun out his first free throw attempt. Not the start any player is looking for.
“That first floater I took I missed, and I thought I was going to be off, and that first free throw yeah," Holiday said. "When you miss you first free throw, it can really throw you off."
Instead, the Pelican's point guard shook off the rust. In more than 23 minutes, he contributed 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting to go with seven assists and two rebounds. Coupled with another splendid performance from forward Anthony Davis, who poured in 38 points, Holiday’s return helped pace the Pelicans to a 113-101 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Holiday’s solid game certainly came at a good time for New Orleans (3-10), which has now won three of its past five games. Last season, Holiday averaged 16.8 points and six assists in 65 games, numbers even better than he averaged in Philadelphia where he was once an All Star with the 76ers.
New Orleans was hoping for more Holiday and more Davis as it looks to return to the playoff level form it has not enjoyed consistently since point guard Chris Paul was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011. Since acquiring Holiday from Philadelphia in a 2013 off-season trade, the 26-year-old has been, like so many players the Pelicans acquire, something of a disappointment. His first two seasons were limited because of leg issues.
Finally healthy, it was a medical scare for his family that derailed him this year. With his wife, U.S. national team soccer star Lauren, pregnant with the couple’s first child, a benign tumor was discovered in her brain. Doctors had to induce labor early in September and then remove the tumor last month in a delicate procedure. Holiday took a leave of absence to be with his family and, with wife and daughter, Jrue Tyler Holiday, now enjoying an excellent recovery, rejoined his teammates this week.
“I’m blessed, man,” Holiday told reporters this week. “Blessed to have my family back, blessed that we’re OK. So blessed for the support, especially from the team. This team was there for me and my family. A lot of people were. I just can’t put it on one group of people. So many showed faith and support.”
His teammates were grateful, too, to have a Holiday back in the locker room and on the court.
“I was so juiced,” guard Tim Frazier said, speaking about playing his former team, Portland, with Holiday back in the lineup. “I was more comfortable with him out there. He’s so crafty, whereas I’m just speed. I need to get some of his game.”
As Frazier spoke, a knot of reporters and cameras gathered around Holiday’s locker just to his right. Holiday said he wasn’t used to dressing in front of a crowd.
“This usually doesn’t happen to me,” he joked. “Usually it’s always over at A.D.’s locker.”
Davis, who hasn’t masked his disappointment in the Pelicans' lousy start, was enjoying a full locker room after a victory. His 6-feet-10 frame hovered above the media cluster, a towel draped around his waist and a bemused grin on his face as Holiday held court.
Holiday allowed even he didn’t expect so much on his first game back. “I was a little bit surprised at how much I could contribute,” he said. “The thrill was there, but I really just think it was the energy of the team. A.D. makes it so easy: all you have to do is pass it to him.”
“Stop it, stop it!” Davis said with a laugh, waving away Holiday’s praise as he headed to the showers.
It’s all good when you’re winning, when your wife is recovering nicely from a scary moment, and the family and team are together.
“I’m just happy, just want to give my skills and talents back to the city and the fans,” Holiday said. And the girls?
“My daughter was watching for sure,” Holiday joked. “My wife? Probably not.”