BOSTON — Leading up to the Celtics’ dominant run to Banner No. 18, Al Horford admitted he heard some of the “let’s win it for Al” discourse. But he wasn’t much for the personal praise as the longtime veteran and “OG” of the Celtics locker room instead made it about the team.
Sure, he was in his 17th season in the league. Horford was also the active player with the most playoff games played without winning a championship. But he instead talked about how a title is bigger than him as an individual. Well, after the Celtics did finally get to the mountaintop by winning the NBA Finals, Horford’s teammates were more than happy to heap praise on the 17-year veteran.
“Obviously once I became his teammate, it was like one of the ultimate goals of this season,” Jrue Holiday said. “Knowing the type of person that Al is, knowing the leader that he is, even off the court, the father that he is, just the all-around great person and great human, I’d run through a brick wall for him. I’m so happy that he got one.”
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Horford and the C’s can celebrate getting to that banner. Horford’s experienced plenty of heartbreak throughout his playoff career. But now, he’ll get sized for a ring just like the one he saw back on Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck’s hand in 2016 during a free agency pitch.
“Nobody deserved it more than Al. He’s been a great not just leader on the court but off the court as well,” Jaylen Brown said. “Just a mentor. Somebody I know I can talk to about life and is going to give me great advice about family, about finances, about just life, adversity, whatever the case is. Just Al has just been that guy for me and for us.”
Horford also shared an anecdote about former Boston president Danny Ainge. Ainge told Horford, “You can win championships in many places, but there’s nothing like winning in Boston. Nothing like winning as a Celtic.”
Horford said that spoke right to him as he chose the Celtics to be great.
“I’m so grateful,” Horford said. “I know I’ve said it before, but it’s glory to the Lord for putting me in this position. It’s been a lot of years. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. I’m going through the emotions right now, but I don’t feel like it’s over. This is an unbelievable feeling. Yeah, the confetti, everything is going on, but it just hasn’t hit me yet.”
