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Milwaukee Bucks: Jrue Holiday Earns Well Deserved Extension

By Paul Bretl

PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 02: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks react in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on April 02, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 02: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks react in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on April 02, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Coming off his best offensive performance of the season against Sacramento on Saturday night, where he dropped 33 points, tallied 11 assists along with seven rebounds, Jrue Holiday and the Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to a well-deserved contract extension.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that it was a four-year extension worth up to $160 million. We would later learn that it’s a $135 million deal with the opportunity for Holiday to earn $25 million in potential bonuses. It also includes a player option in Year 4.

The Milwaukee Bucks acquired Holiday this offseason in a four-team trade that ended with Eric Bledsoe in New Orleans, George Hill in Oklahoma City, and the Bucks sending several draft picks to New Orleans as well.

While it was a deal that required the Bucks to give up a lot to bring Holiday to Milwaukee, it was a move that was well worth it. In 31.7 minutes per game this season, Holiday is shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3. He’s also averaging 17 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and a league-best 1.8 steals.

Not to mention that there is also the juice that Holiday brings on the defensive end of the court, which cannot be overstated when discussing his impact on this Bucks team.

As fantastic as Holiday has been all season, he’s been even better as of late. Over his last eight games, Holiday is averaging over 23 points per game on nearly 59 percent shooting from the field, including 50 percent from deep. He’s also logged 4.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game during that span.

Holiday has been eligible for an extension since February and has been open to the idea of staying in Milwaukee long-term since he got here:

"“We’re for sure open to it, said Holiday on Chris Haynes’ podcast via Behind the Buck Pass. “Again, I’m about winning, and this franchise over the past few years, they have been doing a very good job of that. Man, I’m really trying to win, to be completely honest. I’m trying to put banners up there, put a ring on my finger, and I’m trying to have fun doing it. This really seems like it could be the place for that.”"

The Milwaukee Bucks have now locked in their top-3 players for the foreseeable future, with Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo signing relatively recent extensions as well. Although Holiday hasn’t been a Buck for long, his impact has been massive. And now, he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

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