Jrue Holiday reveals eye-opening Damian Lillard text after rejoining Blazers

Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard have reunited with the Portland Blazers for the 2025-26 NBA season, bringing veteran experience to a young team. Holiday was traded from the Boston Celtics and contributes a championship pedigree as a two-time champion, while Lillard returns to the franchise where he played his first 11 seasons and is currently rehabbing from a ruptured Achilles injury that will delay his season start.

Holiday disclosed that he and Lillard have maintained communication during the offseason, sharing an encouraging text from Lillard that read, "Man, we really got a chance to be good." This exchange underscores their shared optimism about elevating the Blazers' performance and instilling a winning culture.

Expressing enthusiasm for the team's young core, Holiday highlighted players like Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, praising their athleticism, intelligence, and potential for growth. He emphasized that with time and guidance, these talents can excel, and he is eager to support their development while competing at a high level.

Lillard, while recovering from his injury, offered insights into the rise of Achilles injuries in the NBA, attributing it to the accelerated pace of the game, the demands of training, extensive travel, and the physical toll of high-level competition. He noted that such injuries affected several stars last season, including himself, Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton, particularly during critical playoff moments.

It was also mentioned that Holiday had a brief prior association with the Blazers in 2023, when he was traded to the team but was subsequently moved to the Celtics without appearing in a game for Portland.