New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday has not played a game this season. He announced in September that he was stepping away from basketball to be with his then-pregnant wife, former U.S. women’s soccer team member, two-time Olympic gold medalist and Wold Cup champion Lauren Holiday. Lauren was diagnosed with a brain tumor that same month.
Now it looks like Jrue is ready to return to the NBA, and he could return next week, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
Jrue Holiday's return to the Pelicans is imminent, league sources tell @TheVertical. He's planning to make his season debut next week.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 11, 2016
There's a chance that Holiday could play at Orlando on Wednesday, sources say, but an expectation that he'll be back by Friday vs. Portland.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 11, 2016
Wojnarowski reports that Holiday could rejoin the team Tuesday and play Wednesday against the Orlando Magic after missing all of training camp and the preseason. While he was gone, Lauren gave birth to the couple’s daughter, Jrue Tyler, and underwent successful surgery to remove the benign brain tumor. The couple has been together since 2008, when they met while both attending UCLA.
The Pelicans are 1-8 this season, and just celebrated that first win, so they’re sure to love having Holiday back in the fold. But I’m sure everyone is just happy that the Holiday family is healthy and secure enough for Jrue to return.
