In his rookie season in the NBA, University of Florida star Al Horford played for the Atlanta Hawks and witnessed the star-studded Boston Celtics, led by superstars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, go the distance to win the franchise’s 17th NBA title, the most in the NBA at the time.
A couple of years later, while still one of the Hawks’ star players, Horford saw the Celtics fall to Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers, ending another epic chapter in the bitter rivalry between the two storied NBA franchises.
Unfortunately for Horford, he was unable to win a title while playing for Atlanta and eventually landed with the Celtics in 2016, where he would become a fan favorite and a significant piece to the puzzle in Boston.
Even though Horford left the team for short stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder, the veteran big man returned to Boston in 2021, hoping to win a title before he calls it a career.
Although he recently turned 38 and is in the twilight of his playing career, Horford won his first NBA title on Monday night with the Celtics.
According to Evan Sidery of Forbes, despite having the perfect scenario to walk away from the game, he has decided to continue playing.
Al Horford will return next season instead of retire after winning his first NBA championship.
Horford, who just turned 38-years-old, is set to make $9.5 million in the final year of his contract with the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/3HQUph30gy
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 18, 2024
Horford may not be the game-changer that he once was early in his career, but the veteran center can still get the job done from time to time when Boston leans on him in the paint.
Horford likely feels the Celtics have a chance to repeat and wants to be part of it until he’s no longer productive on the basketball floor.
NEXT: Colin Cowherd Reacts To Celtics Winning NBA Championship
