Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday was always going to be a crucial part of the team's year-over-year development. Yet, his talent still leaves teammates in awe.

Bucks forward P.J. Tucker, acquired by Milwaukee prior to the March deadline, said he never understood just how good Holiday really was until they shared the floor together.

Tucker also said there is more to Holiday's seemingly reserved persona:

“Jrue is the most underrated player in the league, by far,” Tucker said, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “People don’t understand how good he is. I didn’t understand how good he was until I played with him. He gets it. And he is the quietest dog you’ve ever played with in your life. He doesn’t say anything, but you know he’s there.”

Holiday has been nothing short of brilliant for the Bucks as they hold a stranglehold over the Miami Heat. The 30-year-old is averaging 16.7 points, 10.0 assists and 7.0 rebounds through the first three games, routinely setting the tone for Milwaukee on both ends of the floor.

For his part, two-time reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is relishing having another ball-handler and playmaker on the floor. The Bucks superstar said it has been nice not to feel the constant pressure of making a play off the dribble or getting into the lane:

“But it’s an incredible feeling not feeling like all the time that you gotta have the ball, you gotta go through the wall, you gotta make something happen, you gotta find teammates, you gotta go through the pounding. Just gotta play through him,” Antetokounmpo said, via Nehm.

There were ample questions in preseason as to whether Holiday would be the guy who could get the Bucks over the hump in the Eastern Conference.

Well, Holiday's teammates certainly seem more at ease with him on the floor. Perhaps he will be the determinant in the team's ability to make a deep run, after all. The Bucks might ask for even more from Holiday with Donte DiVincenzo out for the remainder of the playoffs.