NBA: Lakers Fan Jrue Holiday Ready To Battle Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis finally got his wish for a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans this summer as he joined the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal that saw the Lakers give up three players – Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart – and three first round draft picks. The power forward’s relationship with the franchise did sour at the end but his former teammate Jrue Holiday has only praise for his former teammate and close friend.

Holiday is the leader of the Pelicans franchise that underwent major changes this summer and he made it clear that while it will be strange to see Davis on the opposite side in the purple and gold, he will be looking to beat his former teammate. The point guard/shooting guard also revealed that he was a Lakers fan growing up.

“Obviously I grew up a Lakers fan, so it's cool to see (Davis) go there. But I still want to beat him - hands down," Holiday said during a recent interview with The Athletic. "It's going to be different seeing him on the other side because we know each other so well. But he knows when we play (the Lakers), it's going to be a battle. I'm going to want that win just as badly as he does."

Holiday averaged a career-high 21.2 points and 7 assists while shooting 47.2 percent from the field last season and for the upcoming campaign he will be joined by the 2019 NBA Draft’s overall No.1 pick Zion Williamson, who is being touted for greatness by many in the NBA. The 29-year-old guard admitted that he does not want to put too much pressure on Williamson, who is entering his rookie season, but believes if there’s any rookie who can handle the pressure and the burden of the entire city, it is the 19-year-old power forward.

"You can see just how much joy he's brought to the city," Holiday added. "I don't want to put too much on him because it can be hard to carry something like that at such a young age. I know he's a freakish athlete and a smart kid. If anyone can carry that burden, it would probably be him."

Holiday revealed that while winning is important, he is keen to be remembered as a good basketball player and the best teammate possible.

He said: "I want to be the ultimate professional and the best teammate. When people talk about me, I want them to say, 'Jrue can really hoop.' That's it. I'm here to play basketball. I'm here to help my teammates. I just want to be known as a good basketball player. Obviously, winning is a big part of that and I want to be known as a winner. That's the ultimate goal."