Why Al Horford’s teammates will run through a wall for Celtics veteran – NBC Sports Boston

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In the immediate afterglow of helping the Boston Celtics secure their 18th title, with champagne-soaked goggles still perched atop his head, Jrue Holiday tried to put into words what it meant to help Al Horford secure that elusive NBA crown.

“[Getting Horford a title] was one of the ultimate goals of [the 2023-24] season,” said Holiday. “I’d run through a brick wall for him.”

Now, as Horford continues to stiff-arm Father Time, and the Celtics prepare to chase another championship, we wondered what it is about the 38-year-old big man that particularly inspires fellow NBA veteran Holiday. 

“I think sometimes you just have those people that bring that out of you,” said Holiday. “They’re great humans, they want the best, not only for you, but everybody around them. They’re selfless. They think about other people before themselves. And they do everything for everybody else and then don’t expect credit. I feel like people like that, you want everything great for them.

“And then you also see his career, what he’s done and how he’s been the best player on his team, and then how he handles a situation like this, where there’s so much talent. He’s for sure a Hall of Famer, and I’m pretty sure Al could really be like strutting his stuff and he doesn’t. He’s so respectful, he’s so humble. 

“Guys like that, you just want to run through a brick wall for.”

Some wondered if Horford might ride off into the sunset after raising the Larry O’Brien Trophy in Year 17 of his NBA career. The way he’s playing, the more appropriate question now may be whether he can play until the same age as his jersey number (42) — or beyond. 

Horford scored a season-high 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting while knocking down six 3-pointers in Boston’s 117-103 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, capping the first 6-0 road trip in team history. It was Horford’s biggest regular-season scoring output since February 2021. 

Horford’s uptick in scoring output helped the Celtics go 14-1 in March, and the team is playing some of its best basketball right before the playoffs arrive. No one seems…

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Publish date : 2025-04-02 11:53:00

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