Jrue Holiday’s Wife Shares ‘Vulnerable’ Message About His Unexpected Trade from Milwaukee: ‘It Crushed Me’

Former USWNT star Lauren Holiday penned a lengthy message about the toll sudden trades has on athlete’s families

Lauren Holiday poses with her husband Jrue Holiday, and kids, on the red carpet at Toyota Stadium on May 06, 2023 . PHOTO: CARMEN MANDATO/USSF/GETTY

Lauren Holiday, a former player for the United States women’s national soccer team, penned an emotional message after her husband, NBA champion Jrue Holiday, was unexpectedly traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Boston Celtics this week.

The lengthy post from Lauren, 36, exposes the way athlete’s families are often affected by the sudden uprooting of their lives.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist wrote, “On Wednesday, my husband took a nap. He woke up to news that he had been moved. No warning, no heads up, not even a conversation that it could be a possibility. Just, it’s done. Now move on because ‘its not personal, its business.’ “

“I’ve debated about writing anything,” Lauren admitted in her post. “But, being vulnerable helps me heal. This isn’t new. We’ve been traded before. Each time we’ve felt something different but this time it crushed me.”

The mother of two said their children, Jrue Tyler (JT) and Hendrix, had just begun their school semesters when the trade happened. “Our kids go to school with other Bucks children. Their dads walk them in and walk out together,” she wrote.

Jrue and Lauren Holiday snap selfie with their kids.JRUE HOLIDAY INSTAGRAM

Lauren said she’s also developed close friendships with the other women married to Bucks players. “The other women on the Bucks have been my workout partners, my confidants, and my support system. We have had Bible studies, retreats and shared so many laughs and tears,” she explained, before adding, “All of this is personal to us. It’s our life. There’s no business to any of that.”

The retired soccer star wanted to be clear that she wasn’t speaking publicly about the situation “to say we are entitled to anything,” but rather to bring awareness to the uncertainty of life as a professional athlete, especially those who are also parents. “Imagine if we didn’t just put dollar signs on athletes,” she wrote. “Imagine if we invested in them as humans, as incredible forces for good.”

Jrue and Lauren Holiday photographed in the 2023 ESPYS.BEN TRIVETT/SHUTTERSTOCK

Lauren explained, “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.”

Concluding the post, Lauren said she and her family are “grieving” the lives they had in Milwaukee, but are simultaneously “celebrating the hope and the joy of what’s ahead” as Jrue joins the Boston Celtics. “The growth is in allowing ourselves to feel this pain now and turn it into power for how we move forward. That’s who we are and that’s who we will always be,” she shared.

Jrue Holiday, daughter J.T. and wife Lauren Holiday during the 2019 NBA Summer League.CASSY ATHENA/GETTY

The emotional message was met with support from her friends, family and NBA fans. Mariah Riddlespringer — whose fiancé, Giannis Antetokounmpo, won an NBA championship with Jrue in 2021 — commented, “Love your vulnerability & love you more!! Thank you for sharing this Lauren.”

Morgan Reid — also a retired soccer player who married former Buck player, Grayson Allen, last summer — said she and her husband “feel it too” after he was a part of the trade package that sent Jrue to Boston. Allen, 27, was traded to the Phoenix Suns from Milwaukee.