Jrue Holiday makes feelings clear on Bradley Beal comparison drama: "We're different players"
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday weighed in on fired Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer reportedly wanting Bradley Beal to play like him. The challenge reportedly left the Suns star miffed, and Holiday made his stance clear on the situation Tuesday.
Calling Beal an elite scorer, Holiday opined (per The Athletic's Jay King):
"I think me and Brad are different players. And I also don’t know what he meant by saying that. But we are different players. Brad is an elite scorer, and he’s had somewhat of an off year. So I feel like things are different."
"It’s tough to go from where he was, somewhere like in Washington, and then kind of experience the experience that he’s been going through. "I just don’t know why people gotta bring me into it. Let me just do me, go out here and try to win as many rings as I can."
It's worth noting that Holiday and Budenholzer worked together during their time with the Milwaukee Bucks. Budenholzer’s dismissal marked the Suns’ third head coach firing in as many seasons, following the exits of Monty Williams and Frank Vogel.
As for Jrue Holiday, his focus now shifts to the playoffs, as the Boston Celtics prepare to face Orlando Magic, who defeated the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in tournament.
Jrue Holiday weighs in on Mike Budenholzer's firing
In the same press conference, Jrue Holiday also commented on Budenholzer’s firing, noting that coaching changes are a regular part of the NBA business.
“People get traded and crazy trades happen," he said. "And then a lot of coaches have gotten fired and nobody knows the exact reason."
"Everybody can speculate but obviously there’s something that they want to work out and something they will do as an organization. But I mean, Bud’s sitting on a bag. Right, that’s what they say? He got fired but he’s sitting on a bag so he can’t be that upset right?”
As of now, there are no reports on where Budenholzer might land next. Only time will tell if the former Suns coach finds a new home on an NBA bench next season.