Knicks Eye Jrue Holiday as Defensive Woes Persist, Trade Deadline Looms
The New York Knicks have been riding the Jalen Brunson wave all season, but if there’s one area that’s been holding them back lately, it’s defense. Over their last 15 games, the Knicks have posted a 116.6 defensive rating-ranking 24th in the league during that span. That’s a steep drop-off for a team with real postseason ambitions, and it’s not going unnoticed.
With the trade deadline fast approaching on February 5, the Knicks’ front office appears to be exploring ways to shore things up on the defensive end. According to a recent report, one name keeps surfacing in league circles: Jrue Holiday.
Yes, that Jrue Holiday-the two-time NBA champion, former Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and a guard who’s built a reputation as one of the most reliable two-way players in the league. Currently with the Portland Trail Blazers, Holiday is drawing interest from New York as a potential backcourt partner for Brunson.
And the fit? It makes a lot of sense.
Holiday may be 35 and in his 17th NBA season, but his game remains sharp. He’s still a pest on defense, a steady hand on offense, and a proven winner.
In his short stint with Portland this season-just 18 games so far-he’s putting up 15.4 points, 7.1 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game, all while shooting at an efficient 56.5% true shooting clip. That’s not just solid production-that’s veteran leadership with impact.
The Knicks see Holiday as more than just a defensive upgrade. There’s belief within the organization that pairing him with Brunson could elevate the entire backcourt dynamic.
Brunson’s offensive engine has been humming, but he’s often had to carry too much of the load. Holiday could be the kind of stabilizing presence who lets Brunson do what he does best-create, score, and lead-without having to take on every tough defensive assignment.
There’s also a bigger-picture angle in play. Holiday’s connection to Giannis Antetokounmpo-his former teammate in Milwaukee-has sparked some speculation that landing Holiday could make New York a more appealing destination for future stars. Whether that’s part of the calculus or not, what’s clear is that the Knicks have long admired Holiday’s game and what he brings to a locker room.
This wouldn’t be a flashy, headline-grabbing move. It would be a smart, calculated one.
The kind of move that championship teams make when they know they’re close but need that extra edge. Holiday’s track record speaks for itself-he was a key piece in Milwaukee’s 2021 title run and again with Boston in 2024.
He doesn’t just complement stars; he helps them win.
For a Knicks team trying to break through in a loaded Eastern Conference, adding a player with that kind of pedigree could be the missing piece. Defense wins in the playoffs, and right now, New York doesn’t have enough of it. Jrue Holiday could change that.
With the clock ticking down to the trade deadline, this is one storyline to keep a close eye on. If the Knicks want to make a serious push this spring, bringing in a battle-tested defender like Holiday might be the move that gets them over the hump.