PHILADELPHIA -- Jrue Holiday is set to run the show for the Philadelphia 76ers for years to come.
Holiday signed an extension with the Sixers just before the midnight deadline and hours after he led them to an 84-75 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday night that the extension was for four years and worth at least $41 million. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because it is team policy not to disclose contract terms. The Sixers had until midnight to strike a deal or risk Holiday becoming a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
He had 14 points and 11 assists in the season opener. Holiday, who was the 17th overall pick in the 2009 draft, averaged 11.7 points and 5 assists over his first three seasons.
"I'm ecstatic to continue playing in Philadelphia," Holiday said. "I'm going to keep putting in the work and pushing myself every day in order to bring a championship to the city and our fans."
Sixers owner Josh Harris was pleased to keep his star point guard.
"Jrue is both an outstanding player and an important part of our future," Harris said. "We are very excited to keep a player of Jrue's calibre in Philadelphia and truly look forward to further building the 76ers legacy around his leadership."
Coach Doug Collins has heaped Holiday with praise and believes he can become one of the top-five point guards in the NBA. The Sixers have let Holiday, Evan Turner and former Sixer Andre Iguodala take turns as the primary ballhandler over the last three seasons, stunting Holiday's growth, even as he's shown flashes of stardom. Collins decided on the first day of training camp that it was time to trust Holiday completely with letting him call the shots at point, and use him and injured centre Andrew Bynum as the building blocks for a run toward Philadelphia's first championship since 1983.
Holiday said after the game he was hopeful he would remain a Sixer for the long haul.
"Whatever I get, I get," Holiday said. "If I get what I want, thank you."
He had plenty of reasons to be thankful Thursday and beyond.
