NBA star Jrue Holiday to miss the start of the season to care for double olympian pregnant wife with brain tumour

Lauren Holiday retired from playing professional football last year

Lauren and Jrue Holiday (Instagram/Lauren Holiday)

The NBA player Jrue Holiday has announced his decision to take a break from his career in order to care for his double Olympian gold medallist wife Lauren after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Jrue, a Point Guard for the New Orleans Pelicans, married Lauren in 2013. They are expecting their first child soon.

Lauren, who gave up professional football last year, was recently diagnosed with a benign brain tumour after experiencing painful headaches.

The 28-year-old will need to undergo brain surgery but this can only be done after she gives birth. Jrue will take an indefinite period of leave to care for both his wife and newborn baby after the surgery.

“My family come before basketball,” the 26-year-old told The Times-Picayune. “I’m obviously blessed to play this game and be in the position I am in, but my wife is the most important thing to me. She comes before anything else.”

"Obviously, we were and are still very excited about the birth of our first child, but our focus shifted from having this magnificent blessing to making sure everything is going to be OK with Lauren and the child. Our priorities right now are being able to manage Lauren't symptoms and still having a fairly healthy pregnancy," he said.

The Pelicans have supported Jrue’s decision, saying: “The most important thing for Jrue to do right now is to be with his wife and family. Every one of our coaches and players understands what Lauren and Jrue are going through and they know we’re behind them 100 per cent”.

Lauren, who won gold for Team USA in both the Beijing and London Olympics, thanked supporters on Twitter following the news.