Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday said he holds no hard feelings toward the Milwaukee Bucks after the club included him in the deal to acquire Damian Lillard just months ago.
"I think that (the Bucks) got what they wanted, so I can't be mad at that," Holiday said Wednesday ahead of his first game versus Milwaukee since the September trade, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.
"A warning would've been cool. But other than that, I'm in the best place that I can be to compete against them, which is for the top team in the East and, hopefully, the top team in the league."
The Bucks dealt Holiday to Portland as part of the blockbuster Lillard deal before the Blazers promptly moved him to the Celtics for a package involving Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and two first-round picks.
Holiday spent three seasons in Milwaukee, notching an All-Star appearance and three All-Defensive team selections. He was instrumental in helping the Bucks win their first championship since 1971. Over 193 games with the franchise, the 33-year-old averaged 18.5 points, 6.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.
Milwaukee flamed out of last season's playoffs as the Eastern Conference's top seed, losing to the No. 8 Miami Heat in the first round.
"It's not like I circled this (contest against the Bucks as) one on my calendar or anything," said Holiday. "I think that this is a big game because of the two teams that are playing, I think because of the caliber players that are on the court and all that, so that's what I would like for it to be about, not me playing against the Bucks."
The Celtics and Bucks enter Wednesday's clash as the top seeds in the Eastern Conference.
