Al Horford has only played in fewer games than he did last season just once in his career, missing the final 44 games of the 2011-12 lockout-shortened season due to a left pectoral tear. Horford played in just two of the final 33 games last year with the Oklahoma City Thunder as the team wanted to give his minutes to younger players while they looked for a team to deal him to in the offseason.
That decision led him to a return to the Boston Celtics, where he is set to play in his fourth season with the organization. He told reporters Thursday that he’s feeling “really good” right now.
Horford has played in the playoffs in every year of his career, except for 2014 when he was out with a torn right pectoral, so he is used to long seasons. Having the long summer really gave him a chance to shape his preparation for this season how he wanted, he said.
“Usually when you finish with the playoffs you’re so tired, you’re depleted, you got to do some things to kind of get back to where you need to,” Horford said. “This summer, I was healthy. I was able to get after it in the weight room, conditioning, start building it on the core like I wanted to. So, I’m going into this year I just feel really good. I feel as good as I’ve felt probably my NBA career, to be honest.”
Al Horford jokingly on Brad Stevens the front office executive: "Man, it's weird. He's been good, really good. For me, it's just different. I've always called him coach so when I see him it's like 'heyyy..' I don't know what to call him."
— Mike Mavredakis (@MikeMavredakis) September 30, 2021