Guys, we’ve got our own Oracle of Delphi in the house! Believe it or not, the man who predicted the Boston Celtics’ fate last year and nailed it is back. It’s none other than Jeff Teague. Now, Teague isn’t just basking in his prophetic glory, he wants his cut. Yep, he’s calling for a payday for the “suggestion” he gave Jayson Tatum last year. So what’s the fuss all about?
Last year, the Boston Celtics clinched their first NBA title since 2008, an 18th banner in a dominant series. But while the spotlight was on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, there was one underrated hero: Jrue Holiday. Holiday’s championship pedigree speaks for itself. After getting traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020, he helped them win it all in 2021. Fast forward to 2023, he landed in Boston via Portland and, once again, lifted the trophy in 2024. So basically, Holiday is a certified lucky charm. But you will be shocked to know that the Celtics weren’t even targeting Holiday at first. That move might not have happened if Jeff Teague hadn’t stepped in.
In 2023, the Bucks made quite a bold move. They shipped out Jrue Holiday to bring Damian Lillard to Milwaukee. But according to Jeff Teague, Boston’s championship run might never have happened without his input. After the Celtics secured their title, Teague spilled the story on his show. He said, “I ain’t going to say I told them to do that, but I did hit JT [Jayson Tatum] once Jrue got traded. I was like, y’all need to go get Jrue. And if you don’t believe me, you can ask him, I swear to God I did.” Now, a year later, as the Celtics look unbeatable again, Teague is bringing it up. But this time along with a price tag.
During the latest of his podcast, DJ Wells put it bluntly: “Obviously Dame (Damian Linnerd) is a Hall of Famer, but that trade alone f—-d up the easter conference because Jrue Holiday was not supposed to be on the Celtics team bro” Another co-host chimed in, “Now the Celtics look like they gonna never loose” Then came Teague’s punchline: “I think they need to give me some money for that”
May 23, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) dribbles the ball against the Indiana Pacers in the first half during game two of the eastern conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Ah, well, Teague was the first to call it. He not only told the Celtics to go after Jrue Holiday but also predicted the Bucks were making a huge mistake trading him for Damian Lillard. And guess what? He was spot on. That trade turned into the perfect opportunity for Boston to snatch a championship, which they did, by the way. Safe to say, Teague saw it all coming before anyone else did. So yeah, if front offices got paid for making smart moves, maybe Teague deserves a little something too. What do you think, should Boston cut him a check?
Jeff Teague breaks down the real problem between two star players
Last year, the Bucks crashed out hard, and let’s be real, the Jrue Holiday trade had a lot to do with it. Despite having Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, two of the best players in the game, Milwaukee couldn’t make it work. Jeff Teague broke down exactly why things fell apart.
While he acknowledged Lillard’s greatness, he pointed out that Dame and Holiday operate very differently on the court. “So, he (Jrue) was like a Swiss Army Knife when it came to a point guard,” Teague explained. “Dame is a real point guard, I need the ball to initiate the offense. Giannis is a 6’10 point guard. He needs the ball to initiate the offense. So that combination of the two is kind of weird.”
Teague didn’t hold back on how much the Bucks missed Holiday, either. He said, “Just because they’re top 75 players they’re going to do that but the combination of the two just doesn’t fit well. Giannis needs like a Jrue Holiday.”
And Teague wasn’t wrong. The Bucks’ experiment with Lillard and Giannis looked great on paper. But on the court? Not so much. In the end, the Celtics seized the moment, and Holiday became a champion again. Looks like Teague might just have a future in front-office moves or at least, he deserves some credit (and maybe that paycheck he’s joking about).
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