Jrue Holiday, guard for the C’s
This is the second time he has won this prestigious honor during his career. This distinction makes him only the fifth player in league history to receive this honor in consecutive seasons. The honor underscores just how important integrity and respect are in competitive play. Holiday certainly embodies these qualities on the court and away.
In a league-wide vote by almost 400 active NBA players, the case was relatively easy for Holiday – he won nearly 34 percent of the first-place votes. This outpouring of support from his peers illustrates the type of person Robert is, an admirable athlete and teammate. Holiday’s accomplishments extend beyond this honor. He’s a three-time winner of the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award, emphasizing his dedication to building teamwork and camaraderie.
Beyond all of these tributes, Holiday is a finalist for the NBA’s Social Justice Champion Award this season. In addition, his dedication to social justice initiatives shows that he wants to do more than just impact the world through basketball. This commitment really cements him as a role model in the league.
Mike Conley has the most Sportsmanship Awards, taking home the award four times. At the same time, Grant Hill has set a standard of his own with three victories atop the same category. Hall of Fame inductees Jason Kidd and Kemba Walker are the only two-time winners of the award. The award not only celebrates individual excellence, but represents the values of sportsmanship in the NBA community.
Celtics president Brad Stevens praised Holiday’s character, stating, “There is no better example of this than Jrue. He is the ultimate teammate and sets a great example for those striving to compete with integrity. His game does his talking, and his impact, on and off the court, goes well beyond his game.”
Stevens further emphasized the qualities that make Holiday stand out in the competitive environment of professional basketball: “In my experience, some of the best competitors are those who pair a quiet confidence with humility, show respect for the competition with their own preparation and work, and have the stamina to navigate the ups and downs of a season with grit and perspective.”
It’s an incredible group of award winners this season. In addition to Draymond Green winning the Hustle Award, Evan Mobley winning Defensive Player of the Year, Jalen Brunson winning Clutch Player of the Year, and Payton Pritchard winning Sixth Man of the Year.
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