No player in NBA history had appeared in more playoff games before winning a championship than Al Horford, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, who notes that the veteran center finally claimed his first title with a win in his 186th career postseason contest. Horford earned praise after Monday’s victory from his teammates, including Derrick White, who referred to the big man’s career as “so underrated,” and Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, who said the Celtics “leaned on (Horford) so much” during their championship season.
“Nobody deserved it more than Al,” Brown said. “He’s been a great not just leader on the court but off the court as well. … It’s been an honor to be by his side. And Al Horford is a real-life legend and hero. It’s been great to be his teammate.”
Horford turned 38 earlier this month, but he remains under contract with Boston for at least the 2024/25 season and it doesn’t sound like he has any plans to call it a career this summer.
“For me, I never really put a timeframe on it,” Horford told ESPN when asked on Sunday how long he’ll continue playing. “I want to make sure that I feel healthy, that I’m enjoying what I’m doing and for me, thankfully, I have my wife’s support and my family’s. That’s a big deal to me. … I feel like I’ve been asked this for a few years now and I feel good, I want to keep playing. Why not keep going? I don’t want to limit myself.”
Here’s more on the new NBA champions:
- Not that there was any doubt, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (YouTube link) said on NBA Countdown on Sunday that the Celtics will put a five-year, super-max offer on the table for Jayson Tatum at some point in the coming days or weeks. The deal, which would begin in 2025/26, would be worth a projected $315MM, assuming the cap comes in at $141MM for ’24/25, then increases by 10% the following year.
- Jrue Holiday earned a bonus worth $1,264,800 as a result of the Celtics’ championship, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN. It’s the second time in the past four years Holiday has cashed in on that bonus in his contract — he also received it in 2021 when Milwaukee won the title. As Marks adds (via Twitter), Holiday earned a total of approximately $2.8MM in bonuses this season for six separate individual and team achievements.
- Can the NBA’s best team get even better during the coming offseason? Mark Deeks of HoopsHype considers that question in his preview of the Celtics’ summer, while Marks (ESPN Insider link) also takes a look ahead at the key decisions and roster moves on tap this offseason in Boston.
- The Celtics’ big bets on Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis last summer paid major dividends in the short term and put the team in a great position to vie for additional championships in the coming years, writes Brian Robb of MassLive.com.
- While Brad Stevens signed off on those Holiday and Porzingis deals, among other moves that pushed the Celtics over the top, Danny Ainge’s fingerprints remain all over the team’s current roster, according to Robb, who spoke to Boston’s former president of basketball operations about his old club’s success. As Robb relays, Ainge said he’s “very happy” for the Celtics but declined to take any credit for this year’s championship run. “I feel fortunate to be a part, a very small part of all of their lives,” Ainge said. “I have a feeling that Jaylen and Jayson and Wyc (Grousbeck) and (Steven Pagliuca) and Joe (Mazzulla) and Brad and Payton Pritchard, Al Horford, the whole group, every one of those guys would have found success without me being involved.”
Except for the fact that Karl Malone played in 193 career playoff games without winning a title, while Horford won his first title after his 186th game. But let’s not let facts get in the way of a good story.
Yeah Malone held the record and John Stockon was second with 182 games until Horford passed him this postseason. link to espn.com
Nobody has more playoff games before winning a championship. Still a good story
My bad, I mis-worded that. He had the record for most playoff appearances before winning a championship, not for most playoff appearances without one.
Jrue and Horford HOFers? Jrue I think is a lock Horford has an interesting resume.
Horford does have U of Florida as well. His college and pro careers might be enough.
He has a bronze for the Dominican team in FIBA too
If Robert Parish isn’t in the HOF then neither of them sound be
That’s good news for Horford and Holiday then, Parish has been enshrined for 20 years.
Ya my bad the site I looked at didn’t have that in his bio
They’re still both on the outside looking in. Jrue’s 6 time All-Defense is great as is two time NBA champion but 0 time All-NBA and 2 time All Star are going to make it hard for him. I actually think Horford’s a little closer. He’s only got one ring but he’s 5 Time All-Star and 1 Time All Defense. If he stays healthy Holiday may make an All NBA team next season coming off the back of the championship.
I agree Horford is closer given his college and NBA careers. Jrue does have a sportsmanship award and a gold medal that will help. Not sure how much though. Horford also made an all Rookie team. I do think Holiday has more time than Horford left in his career, so if he adds a few more all def and another championship then I could def see it. Horford, I would guess plays next year and retires, but that’s just me speculating. jrue is almost exactly 4 years younger coincidentally, they both had recent bdays i remember being brought up in playoff discussion.
The cap is coming in at 142.3 The increase is fixed at 4.05 every year which is 6.81 million a year for a total of 75 million over 11 years starting with the 25/26 season.
The smartest move the C’s made is getting rid off Smart and Williams the cancer and the delusional
Calling Smart a “cancer” is pretty bizarre. With that said Holiday is so much better than Smart it isn’t even funny.
At one point I never would’ve thought or said that but the last few yrs he really turned it into one his head just got too big in the end
Brad Stevens, super hero, stuck the new Portland TrailBlazer GM with nothing, a constantly injured Rob Williams, an over priced guard no one wanted in Brogdan, a #1 pick for Dru Holiday , an absolute steal. Also, Stevens as you said, found a taker in Memphis in Marcus Smart…Celtics getting 2 # 1 picks for Smart—- repackaged 1 #1 pick for KP( OK -KP great when he does play)…ALSO, Trail Blazer GM got stuck with a big contract in Ayton… Phoenix couldn’t wait to get rid of him… In summary Celtics Winner, TrailBlazers loser…
I was talking about the other Williams
Horford and Jrue are two of best 2way players of their generation. I’m happy for both. Them and White are only Celtics I like.
Holiday may have been the best trade last off season. Dame was a mistake in Milwaukee and Boston doesn’t win the title without Holiday. A very solid underrated player