Al Horford

Lore & Background

Horford played college basketball for the Florida Gators and was the starting center on their back-to-back NCAA national championship teams in 2006 and 2007. He was drafted with the third overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks, with whom he played nine seasons before signing with the Celtics as a free agent in the 2016 offseason. After three seasons in Boston, Horford played for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Oklahoma City Thunder before being traded back to the Celtics prior to the 2021 season. He reached the NBA Finals with the Celtics in 2022 and 2024, winning his first NBA title in 2024.

Reader's Guide

Horford was born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. His father, Tito Horford, played in the NBA for three years. In 2000, Horford and his family moved to Lansing, Michigan, where he attended Grand Ledge High School. He holds seven school records, including most career points (1,239).

As a senior, he was named "Class A Player of the Year" after averaging 21 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks per game. He played AAU basketball for the Michigan Mustangs. Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was listed as the No. 7 power forward and the No. 36 player in the nation in 2004. He accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of Florida, choosing the Gators over Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State.

He played for coach Billy Donovan and teamed up with Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, and Taurean Green. Horford made an immediate impact in 2004–05, starting at center with David Lee, and helped the Gators win the 2005 SEC tournament championship. The Gators won the SEC championship again in 2005–06 and entered the 2006 NCAA tournament as the No. 3 seed. They defeated George Mason and then UCLA in the championship game for the school's first national title, with Horford scoring 14 points and seven rebounds.

In December 2006, Horford missed games due to injury. He returned against Ohio State, holding Greg Oden to seven points and recording 11 points and 11 rebounds. On March 4, 2007, he became the fourth player on his team to score 1,000 career points. On April 2, 2007, the Gators repeated as national champions, defeating Ohio State 84–75. Three days later, Horford, Noah, Brewer, and Green declared for the NBA draft.

Did You Know?

• Horford was the only player unanimously selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2007–08.
• He became the first Hawks draft pick to earn an All-Star berth since Kevin Willis in 1992.
• Horford signed a five-year, $60 million contract extension with the Hawks on November 1, 2010.
• He was named Third-Team All-NBA in 2010–11.
• Horford scored a career-high 34 points on February 27, 2013, against the Utah Jazz.