Justin Holiday Ready to Make Mavs Impact: 'This Team Is Very Exciting’
DENVER — In the hours leading up to the Dallas Mavericks tipping off against the Denver Nuggets in Wednesday's 118-109 loss, the team had announced the official signing of Justin Holiday.
“I think when you talk about Justin, you look at just his ability, his length, his ability to make shots and being a pro,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “You look at his family and the success that they’ve had in this league, so we’re really excited to have the opportunity to have him on board.”
Holiday joined the Mavs in Denver on the day of the game and was available to play. He didn't end up receiving playing time, but Kidd did tell reporters before the game that Holiday is prepared to can the team "whatever is needed" in terms of playing time and that he will receive minutes "at some point" against the Nuggets.
The first chance Holiday will get to make his Mavs debut is on Feb. 23, when the team returns from the NBA All-Star Break to take on the San Antonio Spurs at the American Airlines Center. In terms of adjusting to the Mavs, Holiday has no concerns. He can lean on his experience playing for eight other teams prior in his nine-year NBA career.
“I’m a vet, so I know coverages, I know what other teams are going to do, I know what players are going to do,” Holiday said. “So I just think I can come in and help the team as much as I can, because this team is an amazing team.”
In 28 games with the Atlanta Hawks this season, Holiday averaged 4.5 points and 14.7 minutes per game. He has only played for 11 minutes since New Year's Day. On a team with improved wing depth, being a one-dimensional shooter that is converting at a 34.5 percent clip from deep wasn't enough to earn minutes.
The Mavs, who had to include Dorian Finney-Smith in the trade to acquire Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets, have faced a need to add more wing players. Alongside Luka Doncic and Irving, Holiday is determined to do the dirty work and knock down shots from 3-point range.
“Obviously, I know what to do from being on other teams,” Holiday said. “But once I get to play with them and see what they like, I’ll just do the little things to try to help those two guys (Doncic and Irving) out.
“But then again, this team is very, very exciting. I know I’m going to see a lot of amazing things with these two guys on this team.”
When a veteran player receives a buyout midseason, they have options to pick from. Holiday sounds intrigued by the potential the Mavs have this season after acquiring Irving and being able to pair him with Doncic.
“The two-headed snake that we have,” Holiday said, “it’s going to be really tough for teams to beat us.”
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