Jrue Holiday recently shared his thoughts and feelings after news broke out that Charles Lee had taken a job offer to become the head coach for the Charlotte Hornets. To those who might not be aware, Holiday is an NBA star currently playing for the Celtics. His addition to the roster has established the team as the favorites to emerge from the Eastern Conference and make the NBA Finals.
This is Jrue’s first season with the Celtics and he has already established himself as a vocal leader for the team. During a recent postgame interview, Holiday was asked about Charles Lee and to elaborate on his thoughts. With that being said, let us take a closer look and find out more.
Jrue Holiday and the Boston Celtics look forward to facing Charles Lee
Some fans may not know that Charles Lee was Joe Mazzulla’s second in command and the assistant coach for the Boston Celtics. Since assistant coaches are involved in conversations and engage with the stars on their team, Lee likely established a good relationship with the players on the roster.
Since Holiday spent his first season with the Celtics under Lee as an assistant coach, he was filled with emotion when asked to talk about the assistant coach being offered the position of head coach with another team. After all, Jrue probably knows the impact Charles Lee had on the team holding the best record in the NBA this season.
“I was really happy for him sad to see him go but extremely happy. He deserves it. I’ve been with him for a minute now. To see him as a head coach and to beat him every time we play him now is gonna be great…Just hugged him.”
Jrue Holiday on finding out Charles Lee got the Hornets’ assistant coach job:
“Extremely happy. He deserves it… just told him I loved him.” pic.twitter.com/J17gbPpUqG
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzellNBA) May 11, 2024
Holiday added, “Told him I loved him and how happy I was for him cuz obviously, we’ve been through a lot together so to see even before when there was a chance for him to be a head coach and him not get it but to see it now. I think the timing might be right. You’re just happy for your guy you know.”
While some stars may dismiss the assistant coaches, Holiday clearly felt genuine emotion over Lee leaving the team. Although the Celtics star was disappointed to part ways with one of his coaches, he was able to keep that to the side and remember that Lee was moving forward with his own career.
How long was Charles Lee with the Celtics as an assistant coach?
Much like Jrue Holiday, Charles Lee spent just one season with the Boston Celtics before leaving the team and taking up an offer to become the head coach for the Charlotte Hornets. Since the Hornets hold one of the worst records in the East, one can certainly understand why the success that the Celtics have seen during the regular season urged the Hornets’ franchise to choose Charles Lee as their new head coach.
In any case, it is also amusing to see Holiday promise to beat Charles Lee and his new squad in their future matchups. Fans are left wondering how much success the Hornets will see next season and if Lee’s absence will impact the Celtics in this year’s ongoing playoffs.