Trail Blazers Announce Jrue Holiday as 2025-26 Maurice Lucas Award Recipient
Team’s Annual Recognition Given to Player Who Best Exemplifies the Spirit of Lucas
PORTLAND, Ore. (April 10, 2026) – The Portland Trail Blazers have named forward Jrue Holiday as the recipient of the 2025-26 Maurice Lucas Award, the team announced today.
The annual award was created in 2010-11 to honor the Trail Blazers player who best represents the indomitable spirit of Maurice Lucas through his contributions on and off the court, as well as in support of his teammates and the organization. In recognition of the award, the Trail Blazers will make a $5,000 donation to a nonprofit of Holiday’s choice.
In just his first season with the Trail Blazers, the 2024-25 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion has continued his legacy of immersing himself within the community—participating in numerous community events throughout the season, including visiting SEI where Holiday joined the tech lab, the annual Fred Meyer Holiday Event where Holiday joined a family from Latino Network to complete a scavenger hunt and help them win prizes prior to doing their holiday shopping, spending time at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital with kids and families, and also celebrating the Blazers Boys and Girls Club, where Holiday competed in minute-to-win-it games against youth from local clubs.
"We had the absolute privilege to add one of the NBA’s best leaders and professionals to Rip City this season in Jrue," said Joe Cronin, Portland Trail Blazers General Manager. "The spirit of the Maurice Lucas Award is who Jrue has been his entire career as a Champion, Olympian and Social Justice Champion and we are proud to call him a Trail Blazer."
Over the course of his 17-year career, in addition to earning the Social Justice Champion award, Holiday has been the consummate professional both on and off the court. Jrue and wife, Lauren Holiday's social justice work centers on economic empowerment for underserved, Black-led communities through the JLH Social Impact Fund, which Jrue started in 2020 by pledging the remaining $5 million of his NBA salary when he chose to play in the NBA bubble. Since then, the fund has distributed over $5.3 million in unrestricted grants to over 200 founders across 16 U.S. cities and provided 400+ hours of coaching in partnership with Renee King of Fund Black Founders. The JLH Fund supports organizations like The Love We Don't See, 5-Eleven Hoops, Operation Restoration, and Adullam Outreach.
"Jrue Holiday continues to be a model of how to serve the community and I am honored to present him with the Maurice Lucas Award," said Pam Lucas, widow of Maurice Lucas. "Jrue has shown grit and leadership for this season’s emerging Trail Blazers team that has made Rip City proud."
MAURICE LUCAS AWARD WINNERS
2025-26 - Jrue Holiday
2024-25 - Deni Avdija
2023-24 - Toumani Camara
2022-23 – Jerami Grant
2021-22 – Anfernee Simons
2020-21 – Enes Kanter
2019-20 – Carmelo Anthony
2018-19 – Jusuf Nurkic
2017-18 – Evan Turner
2016-17 – Al-Farouq Aminu
2015-16 – Ed Davis
2014-15 – LaMarcus Aldridge
2013-14 – Robin Lopez
2012-13 – Damian Lillard
2011-12 – Wesley Matthews
2010-11 – LaMarcus Aldridge
About the Maurice Lucas Foundation
The Foundation is named in honor of the late Maurice Lucas (1952-2010), the leading scorer on the 1977 NBA champion Trail Blazers team. Besides his outstanding achievements on the court, Lucas also selflessly gave his time and energy to Portland youth. Since its formation in 2010, the Maurice Lucas Foundation has served thousands of students and families through its Academy program, basketball camps and teams.