Horford reveals what winning a title in Boston would mean to him originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
Al Horford has earned many accolades throughout his 17-year career. As the third pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, the five-time All-Star earned All-Rookie, All-NBA and All-Defensive honors. But the 38-year-old Boston Celtics big man now has his eyes on the ultimate prize for the city that means so much to him: winning a championship.
“[My career] It’s something I looked back on,” Horford said Jared Greenberg of NBA TV ahead of Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals on Friday. “Everything I’ve been through to get to this point, to be at this level – I’m so grateful for this journey.”
Horford began his career with the Hawks, spending nine long seasons in Atlanta before signing with the Celtics in 2016. Horford was a key cog in Boston for three seasons, with a front-row seat to the emergence of Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown and Jayson. Tatum, before signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a four-year, $109 million contract in 2019.
The following season was nothing special for Horford, leading the Sixers to trade the Florida product to the Oklahoma City Thunder the following season. Horford played just 28 games for the Thunder in 2020-21 before Boston brought their veteran veteran back, reacquiring him in exchange for Kemba Walker and two draft picks in the summer of 2021.
While Horford’s role has changed over the years, his love and respect for the city of Boston and the Celtics organization have not.
“It’s all about the team,” Horford added about why he was willing to sacrifice and give up his most important role. “All I really want to do is win. I understand the opportunity that’s in front of me, and sacrificing is something you have to do to get where you want to be.”
Entering Game 4 with a 3-0 lead over the Dallas Mavericks, Horford is just one game away from completing his ultimate goal, with a chance to do so on Friday night in Dallas.
“Coming back to Boston for me was like a second chance, and I knew I needed to make the most of it,” Horford said. “I made great progress the first three years I was here, so coming back here I knew I had to do whatever it took to help put us in position to win a championship.”
“Coming back to Boston for me was like a second chance. … Coming back here, I knew I had to do whatever it took to help us win a championship.” @JaredSGgreenberg caught up with the hungry Al Horford to discuss what a championship would mean to him pic.twitter.com/2z2GBJPyk7
-NBA TV (@NBATV) June 14, 2024
Horford doesn’t shy away from moments like this; He played in 185 postseason games – the 15th-most all-time and second-most among active players behind only LeBron James – and even faced the 2008 Celtics team that last brought the title to Boston as a member of the Hawks. Now with the opportunity to earn it for its new home, raising Flag 18 means everything.
“[I’m] just grateful to be in this moment, in this position,” Horford said Abby Chin of NBC Sports Boston in a one-on-one interview on Thursday. “I understand what’s coming, and for us it’s just taking it [series] one game at a time and one day at a time, and today is an opportunity to do that.”
With his sixth season representing Boston almost registered, Horford has been a living example of what it means to play Celtic basketball, playing selflessly and always giving maximum effort.
