Jrue Holiday aims to finish career with Bucks
There has been plenty of discussion surrounding the future of the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason, from what their core would look like before free agency to superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo saying he would pursue the best opportunity to win another title–whether it was in Milwaukee or somewhere else.
Now vaulting his way into that discussion is Jrue Holiday, who has two years and $76.3 million left on his contract with a $39.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season, per Spotrac. Holiday, 33, offered more clarity on his future in an interview with Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Tuesday.
“Would love to,” Holiday said when asked about if he wants to sign an extension with the organization. “Before I even won here I think I said I’m a Buck for life and I mean that like deep in my heart. I don’t want to play for any other team. I think we have a chance to continue to do great things as the Bucks team and organization so I want to be in Milwaukee.”
Holiday previously felt “strongly” about possibly retiring when his current contract expires. That does not appear to be the case anymore.
“No, I don’t plan on retiring. I don’t plan on retiring,” he said. “We’ve talked about stages in basketball and sometimes you go through modes or hard spots where like, even with my family, maybe the best thing to do is retire or even just being tired and being exhausted, playing a lot of basketball. But no … I’m not retiring.”
He signed his four-year extension with Milwaukee in April of the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, so he won’t be eligible for an extension until late February. Jrue Holiday can attach three years and about $179 million (with likely/unlikely bonuses, since his current contract has them) to his current $135 million deal, but the question will be if Milwaukee will be willing to pay that amount to a guard who will be entering his age-35 season at the start of a hypothetical extension.
The Bucks re-signed Khris Middleton to a three-year, $93 million deal and Brook Lopez to a two-year, $48 million deal in free agency this offseason. So it appears Milwaukee could keep their core four–yes, including Lopez, one of the best rim protectors in the sport–together for at least the next two seasons, barring any change.
The 6-foot-3 guard was instrumental to the Bucks winning Milwaukee’s first NBA Title in a half-century in 2020-21, his first season there. Now, he looks to build off a very productive season, averaging 19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.2 steals on 47.9 percent shooting, including 38.4 percent from the floor and 85.9 percent from the free-throw line.
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