Jrue Holiday has yet to make his debut for the Pelicans this season, having spent the early part of the season caring for his wife, who underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor last month, and his newborn daughter. However, Holiday’s return to the court is imminent, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (via Twitter).
According to Wojnarowski (via Twitter), the Pelicans are expected to welcome Holiday back to their lineup at some point next week. While the point guard’s debut could take place on Wednesday against the Magic, it’s more likely to happen next Friday, when New Orleans faces Portland.
Holiday, 26, has spent the last three seasons with the Pelicans, and has been a key part of the club’s offensive attack during that time. In 2015/16, he averaged 16.8 PPG and 6.0 APG in 65 regular season contests (28.2 MPG). Injuries have limited Holiday’s playing time since he arrived in New Orleans, however — he appeared in a total of just 74 games in his first two years with the Pelicans before playing in 65 last season.
Having struggled out of the gate this season, the Pelicans will be happy to get Holiday back in their rotation. The club lost its first eight games before finally getting in the win column on Thursday night against the Bucks.
New Orleans has also been hit hard by backcourt injuries in the early going — Tyreke Evans and Quincy Pondexter have not played yet this season due to health issues, and the team had to waive Lance Stephenson‘s non-guaranteed contract when he suffered a groin injury, in order to add a healthy body (Archie Goodwin).