Before every game, when the Celtics run out of the tunnel for layup lines, they are led onto the floor by Al Horford.
He is their unquestioned emotional leader, a quintessential Celtic who inspires everyone in the organization—including the head coach, whom Horford is two years older than.
"I mean, you can't really put it into words," Joe Mazzulla said when asked how much Horford means to the team after the Celtics punched their ticket to the NBA Finals.
"He's just a guy – who is the best. His leadership. His poise. His intensity. When he brings it to a different level, it's contagious. Inspiration, guys look up to him – He's just Al. I can't put it into words. But I'm grateful that we have him, and I'm really happy for him. Just the sacrifices that he's made over the course of his entire career to get another shot at this is big, and I'm really happy for him."
Horford, who turned 38 on Monday, is the Celtics' seasoned veteran, the team's elder statesman. In NBA terms, he's probably eligible for a senior discount. He towers over his teammates in terms of experience, with a significant age gap separating him from the next oldest player, Jrue Holiday, by four years and Derrick White, the new closest after that, by eight years. To put it in perspective, when rookie Jordan Walsh entered the world in March 2004, Horford was gearing up for his freshman year at Florida.
Horford's achievements in the league speak volumes about his contributions to the game. He has undoubtedly left his mark on the basketball landscape with five All-Star selections, an All-NBA nod, All-Defensive honors, and a collection of Player of the Week/Month awards. Throughout his 1,259 big league games, including postseason appearances, the big man has amassed nearly 40,500 NBA minutes, solidifying his place among the top-70 in all-time NBA rebounds and top-60 in all-time blocks.
However, one glaring omission remains on his resume: An NBA title.
Before Boston's NBA Finals appearance in 2022, Horford had endured 141 playoff games without a trip to the grand stage – the most by any player in history without a Finals appearance. Now, he gets another shot at the Larry O'Brien trophy that has evaded him since 2008.
If the Celtics do raise Banner 18, Horford would become the 10th-oldest player to win a championship, joining a couple of Celtics on that list: Sam Cassell (38), P.J. Brown (38), and Robert Parish (43), granted Parish won his final championship with the Chicago Bulls in 1996-97. All three of those players retired following their final championship.
"I just feel very grateful to be in this opportunity. It's very exciting for me," Horford said after sweeping the Pacers. "We've just been consistent all year as a group. That's a word that keeps coming up, and it's just the reality. Our group has been solid. We're enjoying playing with each other on the court and trying to make the most of this opportunity. So, for me, I'm just enjoying this season and trying to make the most of it and trying to do the best that I can of this opportunity. It's not easy getting to this position. It's only my second time being in the Finals, so I'm just very fortunate. Just very excited for the opportunity."
Horford embodies what it means to be a Celtic. Throughout his tenure in Boston, he's consistently fulfilled whatever role was required of him, always with one objective in mind: winning.
Prior to this season, Horford had come off the bench just 12 times in his career, starting in 1,168 of his 1,180. Yet, he embraced the concept of "sacrifice," seamlessly transitioning into a swing role with 33 starts and 32 appearances off the bench – a role in which he thrived.
In the postseason, he's made 14 starts, averaging 30.4 minutes per game, playing a pivotal role in the Celtics' impressive 9-1 record without Kristaps Porzingis, providing stability and leadership when it mattered most.
This team should be driven enough on their own; they shouldn't need extra encouragement. But if they do, just turn to number 42 – one of the most deserving players of a championship in the league.
