Jrue Holiday to replace Bucks teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo in NBA all-star skills challenge

SALT LAKE CITY – Last season, Jrue Holiday won the NBA’s Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award. This year, the Milwaukee Bucks all-star point guard is living up to the honor during all-star weekend as the Journal Sentinel learned he is expected to fill in for injured teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo in the all-star skills challenge competition Saturday night at Vivint Arena.

“I didn’t plan on doing it but yeah, why not?” Holiday told the Journal Sentinel. “It’ll be fun.”

It is Holiday’s first all-star game since 2012-13 and he participated in the skills challenge that weekend. But back then, it was an individual competition and he lost to Portland’s Damian Lillard. This year, he is competing with Bucks teammate Thanasis Antetokounmpo and the Wisconsin Herd’s Alex Antetokounmpo.

“It’ll be a little different, that will be a little bit exciting,” Holiday said of the format change. “While I’m here I might as well show off my skills. I think just, honestly, helping out, I think it’s the right fit. Maybe Giannis will let me wear his jersey.”

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Giannis Antetokounmpo sprained his right wrist after falling into the basket stanchion against Chicago on Thursday night. When asked about the injury on Friday, he shrugged it off.

That night Bucks head coach Mike Budenhozler said an X-ray was clean, but the two-time league most valuable player has continued to be evaluated in Salt Lake City.

His status for the all-star game on Sunday remains unknown. The Bucks return to action on Feb. 24.

Last year, the Antetokounmpo’s finished third in the skills challenge. Now, Thanasis and Alex have one of the league’s best point guards to help them navigate the challenge.

For Holiday, whose children were experiencing the entirety of his Saturday from the practice to the media scrums, the selection to the all-star game a decade after his last appearance has been special.

“It means a lot,” he said. “I think just it being 10 years later, me being able to just get a chance to perform at the highest level and on a really good team and just showcase my talent, just really being able to be the best that I can, it’s awesome to be recognized for it.”