Nice Horford article on ESPN

[trickybilly]

Interesting stat:

according to ESPN Stats & Information. And since Horford returned to Boston in 2021-22, he has recorded 1,022 total shot contests in the playoffs, more than 200 more than the next-closest player in that span (Denver's Nikola Jokic, at 786 shots contested).

[Kernewek]

Any chance you have a link?

[boscel33]

It's quite an article!

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40307170/the-two-decade-al-horford-brad-stevens-relationship-helped-fuel-boston-nba-finals

[RLewis35]

Fantastic article.  I?m not sure Al has the typical stats to get his jersey retired if we win the title, but between being a huge FA signing at the time, leaving and coming back, and his mentorship of the Jays, I could see it too and be happy with it. 

[BitterJim]

That was great, TP for sharing

[Roy H.]

Fantastic article.  I?m not sure Al has the typical stats to get his jersey retired if we win the title, but between being a huge FA signing at the time, leaving and coming back, and his mentorship of the Jays, I could see it too and be happy with it.

If we apply the "KG standard", six seasons and a title might get you into the rafters.  Obviously, Al isn't KG, but he's been a crucial piece of the team.

I'd retire his number, and hope he makes the HOF someday. 

[Kernewek]

Fantastic article.  I?m not sure Al has the typical stats to get his jersey retired if we win the title, but between being a huge FA signing at the time, leaving and coming back, and his mentorship of the Jays, I could see it too and be happy with it.

If we apply the "KG standard", six seasons and a title might get you into the rafters.  Obviously, Al isn't KG, but he's been a crucial piece of the team.

I'd retire his number, and hope he makes the HOF someday.

Provided we wind up winning this series, he's more likely to make the HOF than get his number retired, I'd say.

[boscel33]

Fantastic article.  I?m not sure Al has the typical stats to get his jersey retired if we win the title, but between being a huge FA signing at the time, leaving and coming back, and his mentorship of the Jays, I could see it too and be happy with it.

If we apply the "KG standard", six seasons and a title might get you into the rafters.  Obviously, Al isn't KG, but he's been a crucial piece of the team.

I'd retire his number, and hope he makes the HOF someday.

It's an interesting conversation, but I am so opposed to retiring of numbers, I'd rather see a jersey with a name than stopping using the number all together.  Just look at the corner the C's are going to be in, needing to issue weird numbers.

[Roy H.]

Fantastic article.  I?m not sure Al has the typical stats to get his jersey retired if we win the title, but between being a huge FA signing at the time, leaving and coming back, and his mentorship of the Jays, I could see it too and be happy with it.

If we apply the "KG standard", six seasons and a title might get you into the rafters.  Obviously, Al isn't KG, but he's been a crucial piece of the team.

I'd retire his number, and hope he makes the HOF someday.

It's an interesting conversation, but I am so opposed to retiring of numbers, I'd rather see a jersey with a name than stopping using the number all together.  Just look at the corner the C's are going to be in, needing to issue weird numbers.

I wouldn't be opposed to that, although I do think that some guys deserve a retired number. They'd be of the JB / JT class, though, rather than role players.

For instance, Danny Ainge deserves a "Danny" up there, without question. 

[CelticsWhat35]

Fantastic article.  I?m not sure Al has the typical stats to get his jersey retired if we win the title, but between being a huge FA signing at the time, leaving and coming back, and his mentorship of the Jays, I could see it too and be happy with it.

If we apply the "KG standard", six seasons and a title might get you into the rafters.  Obviously, Al isn't KG, but he's been a crucial piece of the team.

I'd retire his number, and hope he makes the HOF someday.

It's an interesting conversation, but I am so opposed to retiring of numbers, I'd rather see a jersey with a name than stopping using the number all together.  Just look at the corner the C's are going to be in, needing to issue weird numbers.

I wouldn't be opposed to that, although I do think that some guys deserve a retired number. They'd be of the JB / JT class, though, rather than role players.

For instance, Danny Ainge deserves a "Danny" up there, without question.

I think it should be Russell, Bird and maybe a couple others (Cousy, Havlicek?) with the numbers retired and everyone else have it switched to their names in the rafters.  Professional athletes are creatures of habit and some get really attached to their numbers.  It may have been a small part, but I think #35 being retired impacted Durant?s decision some during free agency

[BitterJim]

Fantastic article.  I?m not sure Al has the typical stats to get his jersey retired if we win the title, but between being a huge FA signing at the time, leaving and coming back, and his mentorship of the Jays, I could see it too and be happy with it.

If we apply the "KG standard", six seasons and a title might get you into the rafters.  Obviously, Al isn't KG, but he's been a crucial piece of the team.

I'd retire his number, and hope he makes the HOF someday.

It's an interesting conversation, but I am so opposed to retiring of numbers, I'd rather see a jersey with a name than stopping using the number all together.  Just look at the corner the C's are going to be in, needing to issue weird numbers.

I wouldn't be opposed to that, although I do think that some guys deserve a retired number. They'd be of the JB / JT class, though, rather than role players.

For instance, Danny Ainge deserves a "Danny" up there, without question.

I think it should be Russell, Bird and maybe a couple others (Cousy, Havlicek?) with the numbers retired and everyone else have it switched to their names in the rafters.  Professional athletes are creatures of habit and some get really attached to their numbers.  It may have been a small part, but I think #35 being retired impacted Durant?s decision some during free agency

Didn't we specifically say that it would be unretired for him? I vaguely remember getting buy-in from his mother to unretire it as well

[trickybilly]

So, how can Al get in the Hall of Fame?

Just on the unretiring number thing... I agree.

Should be Russell, Hondo, Bird, and maaaaybe even Paul Pierce.
Guys who defined eras. Now if Cs win two or even three or four, there will be a strong case for both 7 and 0 to be retired.

[cman88]

Al was also the first major free agent we were able to get in Boston back 8 years ago and started our return to relevancy after the big 3 era.

[Phantom255x]

It's nice that he's no longer on those lists where it's like "most playoff games or experience or statistics without a title". He deserves it. If you ask me he should have his #42 retired here. Like @cman88 also said, I feel our return to relevancy also coincided around the time he picked Boston as a free agent. And he's fit the team like a glove, doing it all even if it doesn't look flashy.

He's had an awesome career, including college performance and championships.