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It’s been eight days since the blockbuster trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. But Jrue Holiday was the player the Bucks gave up to bring the deal to fruition – a move which did not sit well with Holiday’s wife.
Lauren Holiday recently took to Instagram to make an emphatic statement lamenting how much the “it’s not personal, it’s just business” mantra hurt her family. She said it’s disappointing to be forced to leave the city that her family gave so much to through the years.
“I’m not sharing this to say we are entitled to anything. I’m sharing this to say we are human beings whose kids develop friendships with other kids in our community, we are people who value family and friendships and invest in the cities we play in. We don’t just take from the city we play in, we give to the city we play in and we give our all.”
NBA fans were divided on whether to have sympathy for the Holidays or not. Some feel that the constant shuffling of players is one of the worst aspects of sports, while other dismissed Holiday’s concerns because it happens to other lower profile people all the time and they don’t complain.
This is EVERYTHING wrong with professional sports. There is a lack of humanity from the organizations. There is a lack of empathy for not only the players, but also their families who are often entrenched as key members of their communities.
How hard is it to understand that… https://t.co/OvpheLwwJX
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 5, 2023
Do you know how many people get fired abruptly in blue collar jobs Lauren?
No you don’t, because you’ve never been in a position to worry about money. https://t.co/UIi0x3u4XQ
— 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 (@Bucks_Take) October 5, 2023
A nice thing to remember next time a commentator does their “why would anybody want to live in Milwaukee” shtick, here’s a star player’s family genuinely heartbroken they have to leave https://t.co/CxJDjTtB5f
— evanryt.bsky.social (@Evanryt) October 5, 2023
I honestly don’t want to hear shit. You never been in a position where you dont have a lot of money. And you gonna complain about your kids having to move schools and make new friends? And that you don’t have workout partners that are nba players’ wives? Gtfoh with that bullshit https://t.co/n0nFCwwhL4
— Giannis AntetoGOAT (@GAntetoGOAT) October 5, 2023
The decision to trade Jrue Holiday may have been “business, not personal” – but so was signing him and keeping him employed to begin with.
The sooner athletes come to terms with the fact that they are part of a business and not part of a family, the easier it will be for them to make peace with leaving.