On Tuesday, the NBA announced the selections for First and Second Team All-Defensive honors. While most focus on the names that did make the list, it was a name not on the list that drew the ire and focus of a handful of Pelicans.
Jrue Holiday, long considered one of the best guard defenders in the league, did not earn a spot on either All-Defense team. Marcus Smart and Ben Simmons earned the guard spots for First Team and Eric Bledsoe and Patrick Beverley earned Second Team honors.
Holiday, though, wasn’t even next in line in terms of voting. His 18 points were third amongst guards that didn’t make the team, trailing Kris Dunn and Kyle Lowry both. Holiday received two first-place votes and 14 second-place votes.
The reaction was a strong one not just from the Pelicans but others around the league. Lonzo Ball retweeted a tweet from the Pelicans about Holiday being snubbed.
JJ Redick’s reaction was much less subtle, as is often the case, as he took to Twitter to stump for his veteran teammate.
When it’s nearly unanimous amongst your peers that you are the best defensive guard in the league and you don’t make either All-Defense team…that’s a snub. @Jrue_Holiday11
— JJ Redick (@jj_redick) September 9, 2020
Interestingly, one of Holiday’s memorable and notable foes also voiced his surprise on Twitter in Blazers guard Damian Lillard.
Beyond a snub . https://t.co/cxklDjN4tJ
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) September 9, 2020
Lillard appeared recently on Redick’s podcast and discussed the infamous 2018 NBA Playoffs and sang praises of Holiday as a defender. Twitter user flightsnofeelns also posted a clip of a number of NBA players calling Holiday underrated or a top defender ranging from Steph Curry to Lou Williams and Chris Paul.
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