{"id":37140,"date":"2024-06-18T09:17:09","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T13:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=37140"},"modified":"2024-06-18T09:17:09","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T13:17:09","slug":"al-horford-wins-his-first-nba-title-with-the-celtics-in-186th-playoff-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2024\/06\/al-horford-wins-his-first-nba-title-with-the-celtics-in-186th-playoff-game.html","title":{"rendered":"Al Horford Wins His First NBA Title With the Celtics in 186th Playoff Game"},"content":{"rendered":"
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After playing in more playoff games than any other in league history before winning his first NBA championship, Al Horford flashbacked eight years ago to his first free agency meeting with the Boston Celtics as he stood on stage in the middle of TD Garden and confetti fell from the air. The 38-year-old said of the Celtics’ former president of basketball operations, “Man, I’ll never forget what Danny Ainge told me in the meeting. He said, ‘You can win championships in many places, but there’s nothing like winning in Boston. Nothing like winning as a Celtic.’\u201d<\/p>\n

When Celtics coach Joe Mazzula, who\u2019s three years younger than Horford, subbed him out of Game 5 with 2:02 remaining in the fourth quarter and Boston on its way to a 106-88 win over the Dallas Mavericks, the crowd let Horford hear it with a booming ovation. Jaylen Brown, the Finals MVP, said, “Nobody deserved it more than Al. 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.” In his 186th career postseason game with three different teams in the\u00a0Atlanta Hawks,\u00a0Philadelphia 76ers\u00a0and Boston, Horford posted 9 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals — one of which came by diving to the floor to corral the ball and pitch it ahead to Brown for an easy score to put the Celtics up 54-39 late in the second quarter.<\/p>\n

Gary Payton previously held the mark, playing 152 postseason games before winning it all with the\u00a0Miami Heat.\u00a0Karl Malone\u00a0holds the record for most postseason games without a title (193). Horford’s decision to sign with Boston in 2016 coincided with the drafting of Brown and came just before the Celtics brought in\u00a0Jayson Tatum\u00a0in 2017, ushering in a string of conference finals appearances and two Finals berths. With\u00a0Kristaps Porzingis\u00a0sidelined with a calf injury for most of the postseason, Horford’s impact was immense, scoring 22 points with 15 rebounds and 5 assists in a close-out win over the\u00a0Cleveland Cavaliers\u00a0in the second round and putting up 23 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks in a Game 3 win over the\u00a0Indiana Pacers\u00a0in the Eastern Conference finals to put Boston in position to sweep.<\/p>\n