Jrue Holiday is still a few months away from playing with the Portland Trail Blazers, but the two-time NBA champion is eager to hit the court with rookie Yang Hansen and the rest of the team.
Holiday was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Trail Blazers on July 7 in exchange for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks. He spent the past two years with the Celtics, helping the organization to its 18th title in the 2023-24 season.
The 35-year-old is expected to provide the Trail Blazers with leadership and guidance, while also contributing at a high level in the backcourt. He believes the team has a good core in place under Chauncey Billups and was impressed by Yang in summer league.
“He has been a superstar,” Holiday said Tuesday at an introductory press conference in Portland. “He has been hooping. We were talking about it earlier, just about how much media he had in Vegas, but he deserves it. He has been doing his thing. I’m not sure anybody saw how well he would play, but he has been out there playing well, so I’m excited.”
The 7-foot Yang was an All-Star in each of the past two seasons with Qingdao in the CBA, the top professional league in China. He averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, three assists and 2.6 blocks in 32.8 minutes per game across 45 appearances last season.
The 16th pick averaged 10.8 points, five rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.2 blocks on 45.7% shooting from the field in four appearances with the Trail Blazers in summer league. He scored in double figures three times, including a 15-point effort on July 15.
Yang is highly touted for his overall skill set and ability as a player who can work down low, space the floor and protect the paint. The Trail Blazers have had him on their radar for the past two years and believe he can be a player who contributes at a high level on both sides of the court.