New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday has undergone season-ending surgery for a stress fracture in his right leg.
USA Today Sports reports the 23-year-old veteran guard underwent the procedure on Friday and team officials immediately deemed it a success. A former Eastern Conference All-Star acquired from Philadelphia in an off-season trade involving Nerlens Noel, Holiday played in 34 games for the Pelicans this season, averaging 14 points, eight assists and two steals in 34 minutes.
Holiday was diagnosed with the injury nearly two months ago and last played for New Orleans on Jan. 8. With their savvy floor general out of the lineup, the Pelicans have struggled to an 8-15 mark, and some to games out of the final Western Conference playoff spot. In the games Holiday has played in, New Orleans was a far more respectable 15-19.
Coming into the season, Holiday, who recently signed a four-year, $41 million extension with the Pelicans, had missed just five games combined over the last three seasons. The former UCLA star’s best NBA season came with Philadelphia in 2012-13, when he averaged 18 points, eight assists, four rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes a night. Holiday became a full-time starter for the Sixers in 2010-11, averaging 14 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals.
The Pelicans have been hard hit by the injury bug this season. Starting center Jason Smith (knee) and forward Ryan Anderson (herniated disk) have also been lost for the year to lingering ailments. All-Star center Anthony Davis has also missed time with various injuries, and is now nursing an injured shoulder that has him listed as day-to-day.
With Holiday out of the lineup, veteran Coach Monty Williams has turned to rookie guard Brian Roberts, who is averaging nine points and three assists in 22 minutes. Tyreke Evans and Austin Rivers have also been logging minutes at the position.
