Jrue Vacation thrilled with Celtics contract extension: ‘We love this group’

BOSTON — Six months in the past, Jrue Vacation’s life was thrown into insanity. He was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Portland Path Blazers simply days after he expressed his want to retire with the staff. A number of days later, he joined the Boston Celtics.

Now, barring one other unexpected commerce, he has a house for the following 4 years.

“With the ability to lock into extra years and get extra time with the gamers and this group—I’m simply excited,” Vacation stated at Celtics shootaround on Thursday. “I’m excited to be right here and to maneuver ahead.”

Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Celtics inked Vacation to a four-year, $135 million contract extension. The veteran guard will decline his participant possibility for the 2024-25 season in favor of signing a long-term deal to stick with the staff.

Within the midst of his fifteenth season within the NBA, Vacation is blissful to have some future safety.

“Truthfully, it’s a blessing,” Vacation stated. “I performed—that is my fifteenth yr, I’m 33. I believe that the chance that God has given me to have the ability to already play for this a few years after which lock it in for extra, for me to be wholesome, and for a corporation simply to see me and admire what I convey to a staff is a blessing for me.”

Final yr with the Bucks, Vacation made his first All-Star staff in a decade and was named to the All-Defensive First Group. His run in Milwaukee included a championship and a number of playoff runs.

Now, he’s discovered a brand new dwelling on the East Coast with the staff he as soon as known as a rival. It’s been a brand new problem for him and his household, however the metropolis has embraced him.

“I believe since I got here right here, and type of the state of affairs how I bought right here, it’s solely been love,” Vacation stated. “The town of Boston—not solely that, however the group made it tremendous simple for us to type of navigate and get by means of a time that was a bit disturbing for us. So, simply an appreciation.

“We love town. We love this group, the gamers in it, and what they stand for, doing our greatest to attempt to get one other banner.”

Boston has been the perfect staff within the NBA this season by a large margin. The additions of Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis together with the inner progress of the staff and training employees has propelled the Celtics to their first 60-win season since 2009.

“As soon as I bought right here and even as soon as I knew I used to be getting traded right here, this is part of what I needed or what I envisioned,” stated Vacation. “Being in an incredible group, being right here for a prolonged period of time, and having the ability to play [alongside] guys like JT and JB, and actually attempt to get extra banners [and] get extra rings.”

Vacation had been having ongoing conversations with the Celtics about an extension, however they have been simple. “I believe mutually, we type of got here to an settlement and felt like this was what was finest for not solely me however for the staff,” he stated.

Boston has excessive hopes heading into the postseason and even greater expectations from the fanbase. The town is itching to see one other banner hung at TD Backyard.

Getting an extension performed earlier than the playoffs will enable Vacation and his teammates to focus solely on the duty at hand – Banner 18.

And Vacation is greater than able to be part of that.

“I wish to be right here,” stated Vacation. “I wish to win a number of rings, and I’ve heard folks say that right here loads of occasions. So, I’m prepared for that.”