Jrue Holiday
I've always been pretty vocal to my teammates. I'm really positive and optimistic. Positive enforcement - I feel like throwing that energy into the air is big.Collection: Positive
Philly, I feel like, is where I became a man and matured my game and became better. I went through the good and the bad with my teammates and it taught me a lot. With the fans and all, it was a great experience.
I knew kids whose first car was one of those exclusive Range Rovers, where only two of that model would be made in the world. I would visit my friends' houses, and they'd be as big as this whole gym. And then I'd go home, and me and Justin would be sleeping together. On a pull-out couch.
I can distribute, I can lock up on defense.
I've dreamed of winning a national championship and I've dreamed of being an Olympian.
People will come up to me and want to take pictures with me because I'm Lauren's husband, and not a basketball player.
In Philly, I had to be a scorer for us to have a chance to win.
Marcus Smart - I love playing against him because he takes defense as seriously as I do. I don't flop, though. People are always telling me I need to learn to flop. Nah.
I'll obviously never get to play in the World Cup, but I get to experience it because of Lauren.
I used to play soccer when I was little, but everybody played soccer when they were little.
I'm blessed to be where I am, but there are a lot of uncertainties in this life.
You can't have your girlfriend mad at you.
I have a lot of confidence in my game. I'm not the flashiest guy, not the most athletic. I'm just solid. And I've always tried to do everything right.
My parents never pressured us. I didn't even know how good my mom and dad were until someone told us.
Obviously there are times when you don't listen to your parents, when you are looking for something in your life - you're searching. But God has given me faith and helped provide me with the answers that I've needed.
I mean, it's funny, I'm not going to lie. It's funny saying it. We're the Pelicans.
People ask me if I would like to make the All-Star team. I mean, seriously, who wouldn't?
Going into games, it's not like I'm thinking about scoring or doing other things for me individually.
Philly has that tradition of great basketball.
For me, as a point guard, you have to construct everything. If you make everybody happy, you are going to be happy.
As a point guard, you don't really have to score. The only time you have to score is when you have to score.
If you are an Olympian you are considered to be the best, like Kobe and 'Melo.
You see guys like Rajon Rondo, John Wall, Derrick Rose; these guys are fast, quick, explosive, can get up off the floor.
I don't need the ball to always help the team.
If you try to mess with the game and kind of go through the motions, that is not the right way to play.
Everyone wants to represent their country and my dream is to one day play in the Olympics.
I'm not really a money man. I'd rather get the wins.
That's where the very best players in the league end up - the Olympics.
I want to be an all-star. It's something I've dreamed of.
You know how you see Chris Brown and all these guys playing basketball? Chris Brown is actually not bad so I feel like it's okay that some of these basketball players are trying to rap.
In my rookie year, I got a chance to play and from there on, I just tried to prove I can be a really good player in this league.
When I first got drafted, I've really grown. Coming in, I was kind of nervous but honestly I've been really blessed going to two playoff series, one against Miami and the next year against Chicago and the Celtics. I've progressed easier.
Obviously representing your country, having U.S.A. on your chest is one of the most important things you can do to give back to your country.
You can't stop the top players but you can slow them down. I think it's a team thing.
I think it's more fun, where everybody gets to touch the ball. That's always a good feeling.
I've seen teams and I've been on teams where, when adversity hits you, you kind of crumble.
I know sometimes when you get injured, a lot of the time you're in the training room. But getting out there on the court - if you're on the sideline cheering them on or even at practice, you've just gotta talk and communicate in that way.
I think the teams who usually win stay together, go through struggles together, and all that.
I've never wanted to move around a lot to try to win. There's comfort in staying in one place and a challenge in finding the right pieces.
Having your voice heard makes you feel more involved and somewhat important.
Who doesn't like scoring?
Honestly, I think in any position there's some sort of pressure.
There's pressure everywhere. For me, being able to control that, handle that through my family life, handle that with my teammates who support me and I them, I feel that's kind of how you get through those type of pressure times.
I've been so blessed to make this money and to play basketball and still have a job, but there are people out there who need support from us.
I don't need any accolades. I don't like being famous. But I can always tell people I used to defend guys like Kevin Durant, and they respect my defense.
Guarding Kevin Durant - that's fun for me.
I love the challenge of defense.
If I'm aggressive, scoring, that's going to open things up for everyone else.
You don't have to get all the way into the paint to still draw attention or get contact.
I guess you kind of take what the defense gives you. You don't always want to just force it.