Jrue Holiday on Bradley Beal comparison: We’re different players, Brad is an elite scorer

Devin Booker was the franchise player before Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal were acquired and he remains the franchise player. He was the franchise player before Budenholzer and previous one-year coach Frank Vogel — Ishbia is on the hook for paying the departed coaches around $18 million combined next season, sources said — and Booker remains so as he finishes the first season of a four-year, $220 million extension.  Booker is eligible to sign a two-year $149.8 million extension this summer, which Phoenix is expected to offer, sources said. In his first season under Budenholzer, Booker averaged a career-high 37.3 minutes, 25.6 points — his lowest since 2028 — and shot a career-low 33% from 3. As the season fell to pieces, Booker made a perceptible shift in speaking about the importance of his “voice.” It was multifaceted — and intentional, sources said. He and Budenholzer got into a dust-up during the season about Booker’s communication in team settings, such as in huddles and film sessions, sources said. Booker referencing it sent a message to the coach who was on his way out. And Booker, now 28 and 10 years into his career, is also subtly letting it be known he will have more to say going forward. -via ESPN / April 15, 2025

John Gambadoro: I know about this story it is true – Beal told Bud “Don’t ever disrespect me like that. Don’t ever tell me to play like another player” -via x.com / April 15, 2025

Chris Haynes: So league sources told me earlier in the season, Coach Budenholzer met with Bradley Beal, and he told Bradley Beal that he wanted him to be the Jrue Holiday of this team. Now listen—understanding that Jrue Holiday is a player who might become a Hall of Famer—definitely one of the best defensive players we’ve seen in this league out on the perimeter. But you’ve got to understand, like, when you’re talking to a guy, a player of Bradley Beal’s caliber, to tell him to play like Jrue Holiday—it wasn’t well received. That’s the way it was relayed to me. It was not well received. I think the better way to probably explain Beal’s role is to say: “Hey, this is what we kind of need you to do. This is what we want you to work on on this side of the ball.” -via YouTube / April 14, 2025

Bobby Manning: Jrue Holiday on Jaylen: “I think he’s fine. I’m pretty sure if you asked him, he’d be fine too.” -via Twitter @RealBobManning / April 15, 2025