The Celtics struck a trade to acquire Jrue Holiday after he was initially dealt to the Trail Blazers as part of the Damian Lillard deal. Now, fans are hoping Boston’s new No. 4 can replicate some of the success that a recent fan-favorite who wore that number, Isaiah Thomas, had.
Holiday addressed his decision to change his jersey to No. 4, citing him and his three siblings (the four Holidays are all notable basketball players) and Thomas himself, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. Holiday also revealed that he reached out to Thomas prior to choosing the No. 4.
Thomas spent three seasons with the Celtics, which proved to be the most impressive stretch of his career, in which he averaged 24.7 points per game, six assists and 2.7 rebounds per game. His three-year tenure in Boston culminated in a memorable season in 2016–17, as he led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals, falling just shy of a trip to the NBA Finals at the hands of LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
