Jrue Holiday could miss time as pregnant wife needs brain surgery
New Orleans Pelicans point guard will likely miss the start of the 2016-17 season because his pregnant wife needs brain surgery.
NBA players often find themselves stuck between their love for basketball and their love for their family. Luckily, most basketball players rarely find themselves having to choose between their two passions. New Orleans point guard Jrue Holiday is an exception. Holiday’s pregnant wife Lauren has a tumor that will require a brain operation after she gives birth. He will take an indefinite leave of absence once she has the operation, according to NOLA.com.
“My family comes before basketball,” said Holiday. “I’m obviously blessed to play this game and be in the position I am in, but my wife is the most important thing in the world to me. She comes before anything else.”
Give props to Holiday for realizing what is most important in life. Family comes before his job. Holiday will be there for his wife when she needs him the most. If that isn’t the definition of true love, then what is?
Holiday was projected to be the Pelicans starting point guard for the 2016-17 season. He will likely maintain that role once he returns, but while he’s gone, the Pelicans will likely turn to Langston Galloway or Tyreke Evans to replace him. The star point guard has the full support of his team.
“The most important thing for Jrue to do right now is be with his wife and family,” Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry said in a statement. “We’ll continue to do everything we can to support them and help them get through these hard times.”
Related Story: Each NBA Team's All-Time Starting Five
It remains to be seen when Holiday’s wife will give birth. While her timetable suggests an October birth is most likely, she could have an induced birth in September in order to treat the tumor more quickly.