Tag: Al Horford

Four Gators on NBA rosters entering 2024-25 season

The 2024-25 NBA season is set to begin and a handful of former Gators are on NBA rosters to start the year. Several more have G-League hopes.

As October winds to a close, another NBA season begins, and four former Florida Gators are set to play in the 2024-25 campaign.

The most tenured Gator in the Association is Boston Celtics forward [autotag]Al Horford[/autotag], who is entering his 18th season (seventh with Boston). Horford was a key figure in the Celtics’ lineup en route to an NBA Finals appearance and world championship

He moved from a reserve role to the starting lineup last season when Kristaps Porzingis went down and has played in the starting five during the preseason. Horford is in the second year of a two-year deal with Boston, which could mean this is his swan song. Of course, there’s always a chance that he re-signs or joins another contender as a veteran leader.

Three-time all-star [autotag]Bradley Beal[/autotag] is the next name on the list. He’s entering his second season with the Phoenix Suns alongside fellow Big 3 members Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Beal is the third option and averaged 18.2 points and 5 assists per game last season, despite missing nearly 30 games due to injuries.

Beal would be the first to go if Phoenix decides to break up the trio that leads its high-powered offense, but that would come after a few months, perhaps closer to the deadline.

Point guard [autotag]Tre Mann[/autotag] was traded from Oklahoma City to Charlotte last season and put up career-high numbers in points (11.9 per game) and assists (5.2). Several NBA experts see this as a potential explosion year for Mann as he enters a contract year.

Power forward [autotag]Dorian Finney-Smith[/autotag] rounds out the list, entering his ninth overall season in the NBA and third with the Brooklyn Nets. Now over 30, DFS is a veteran leader on the Nets who is still solid at playing on both ends. He could also end up moving at the trade deadline given his versatility at the forward position

Gators who transferred before going to NBA

Andrew Nembhard is the only former Gator in the NBA who transferred before going pro. Nembhard finished his college career with Gonzaga and has spent the last two seasons with the Indiana Pacers, starting 110 of 143 games played.

Nembhard played in the Paris Olympics with Team Canada and signed a three-year extension with Indiana over the summer. His future is bright and Florida gets some credit for developing him at the start of his college career.

Former Gators looking to make rosters

A handful of former Gators should wind up in the G-League this year, including recently waived names such as Colin Castleton, Alex Fudge, Keyontae Johnson, Zyon Pullin and Tyrese Samuel.

G-League rosters are still being figured out. Check back with Gators Wire for more updates if and when those players are signed.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Celtics cap issues could correct itself within two years

The Boston Celtics cap issues could correct themselves over the next two years.

The Boston Celtics are a second-apron luxury tax team. Since taking over as the team’s president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens has assembled one of the most talented and deepest rosters in the NBA. However, that level of talent and depth has come with a significant cost. Stevens has also spent the summer securing the long-term future of the core rotation.

According to The Athletic’s Jared Weiss, Boston’s current status as a second apron team could course correct itself within the next two years, as the apron could grow on a yearly basis. Due to the Celtics having all of their talent locked down, it’s possible their payroll will grow at a slower rate than the second apron and eventually see them duck under it completely.

“The second apron could grow year-to-year at a rate that would allow Boston to get under it for the 2026-27 season without even sacrificing a starter,” Weiss wrote. “The Celtics plausibly could stay out of the second apron from there on and fix their draft-pick issues. That would allow them to start trading core players to get younger and extend the window to win with Jayson Tatum and/or Brown.”

Eventually, the Celtics will need to make some roster moves. Jrue Holiday is nearing his mid-30s, and Al Horford is firmly in the final stage of his career. Ducking under the second apron would allow Stevens to re-tool the roster and keep the Celtics at the top of the Eastern Conference for years to come.

Whether Boston can duck the second apron will remain to be seen, but it would certainly help them establish a dynasty if they could.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3SGM4MK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4dBiNuJ

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Every Boston Celtics player appearance on ‘Shaqtin’a Fool’ since 2011

Watch the clip to see the worst (or at least the funniest) of the Celtics over the last decade and a year.

While it might not be an honor to appear on former Boston Celtics big man Shaquille O’Neal‘s “Shaqtin a Fool” segment on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” a fair number of Boston players making a guest appearance over the years. The segment, for the uninitiated, is effectively the blooper reel of the dumbest, funniest or weirdest things Shaq and company caught on video that week.

Now, YouTuber and Celtics fan videographer Danielle Hobeika put together an all-time compilation of when Celtics players made the show. The list includes Rajon Rondo, Mikael Pietrus, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Kris Humphries, Vitor Faverani, Kelly Olynyk, Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, Al Horford, Gerald Green, Jayson Tatum, Daniel Theis, Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, and Glen “Big Baby” Davis.

Watch the clip embedded below to see the worst of Boston over the last decade and a year — and try not to drink anything while you watch it.

Check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Celtics rookie Anton Watson compares his game to Al Horford’s

Watson might be about to find out that emulating an all-time Celtics great big man is not so easy as it looks.

Newest Boston Celtics forward Anton Watson might be about to find out that emulating an all-time Celtics great big man is not so easy as it looks. But if he is even vaguely successful at his efforts to learn from and emulate a certain veteran teammate, Boston will be in very good shape indeed. 

The Celtics rookie previewed the NBA’s looming 2024 Las Vegas Summer League set to kick off this coming Saturday (July 13) for the Celtics, and compared his game to Al Horford’s at Boston’s practice on Monday. Watson also spoke about how he hopes to learn from Celtics veterans and shoot more 3s next season.

Thanks to our friends over at the “CLNS Media Boston Sports Network,” you can check out his comments in the clip embedded below.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Was veteran Boston Celtics big man Al Horford the unsung hero of his team this past season?

Who was the guy who exceeded expectations and contributed more to the teams’ success than expected on a consistent basis?

Was veteran Boston Celtics big man Al Horford the unsung hero of his team this past season? Among all of the stars the 2023-24 NBA Champion Celtics had on their roster on their way to hanging Banner 18, who was the guy who exceeded expectations and contributed more to the teams’ success than expected on a consistent basis?

To answer such a question, the hosts of the CLNS Media “The Big Three NBA” podcast, A. Sherrod Blakely, Gary Washburn, and Kwani Lunis make a case for reserve combo guard Payton Pritchard and Horford in particular as the team’s unsung heroes last season.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Al Horford discusses winning his first career championship with Boston

Al Horford discussed winning his first NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics ahead of the teams championship parade through Boston.

Al Horford is a true veteran. He’s been integral to the Boston Celtics’ roster growth and ongoing development into a championship-caliber team. On June 17, at the age of 38, he won the first NBA Championship of his career. He also became the first Dominican player to win the Larry O’Brien trophy, thus making the achievement even more special.

Before the Celtics embarked on their championship parade through the streets of Boston on Friday (June 21), Horford and his Celtics teammates gave a sit-down interview with Brian Scalabrine in the TD Garden. Horford was asked about the experience of winning a championship with a team he chose to join as a free agent in 2017.

Horford has recently committed to returning to the Celtics next season as they look to defend their championship. He will be playing out the final year of his current contract.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6axI0b4VDiU

You can watch Horford’s comments on winning his first championship by clicking on the embedded link above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3UAVYRg

Spotify:  https://spoti.fi/3y0H4Lh

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Wyc Grousbeck confirms Al Horford will return to Celtics next season

Wyc Grousbeck has confirmed that Al Horford will return to the Boston Celtics for another season.

Al Horford is an NBA Champion. The veteran big man has been an important part of the Boston Celtics rotation during both of his tenures with the franchise. On Monday (June 17,) Horford won the first championship of his career. At 38 years old, there were questions surrounding his future despite him having another year left on his current contract.

During a recent interview on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show”, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck confirmed that Horford would be back with the Celtics next season as he looks to help the team defend its championship. Horford will be 39 by the time next season ends and could be playing his final year in the NBA.

This season was the first time Horford had come off the bench. However, he proved that he was still more than capable of being a starting big man in the NBA, stepping up to fill in for Kristaps Porzingis during the Celtics’ postseason run.

You can watch Grousbeck’s full interview by clicking on the embedded link above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3UAVYRg

Spotify:  https://spoti.fi/3y0H4Lh

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Al Horford celebrates the Boston Celtics’ 18th banner with fans

Horford recently attended a Raising Cane’s store and greeted hundreds of fans.

The Boston Celtics may be world champs after beating the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the 2024 NBA Finals, but that doesn’t mean they are resting on their laurels. In fact, veteran Boston big man Al Horford recently attended a Raising Cane’s store and greeted hundreds of fans in Boston on this past Thursday (June 20) afternoon after the Celtics won the 2024 NBA championship on last Monday (June 17) night.

Boston will hold a parade for the Celts on Friday (June 21) to throw some more gasoline on the fire that is the celebrations for Banner 18. But in the meantime, check out the clip embedded above from our friends over at the “Celtics All Access on CLNS” official YouTube channel.

Be warned, you might get hungry watching, though.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Tom Brady responds to Celtics star Al Horford’s drunk Brady t-shirt

Tom Brady’s hilarious response to Al Horford’s t-shirt

Al Horford should have won an award for the best t-shirt at the Boston Celtics’ NBA championship parade on Friday. It was even Tom Brady-approved.

The picture on Horford’s shirt was an image of a drunken Brady at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl parade back in 2021. Who could ever forget Brady tossing the Lombardi Trophy from a boat and leaving the celebration on drunken legs?

Horford certainly had a celebration to remember, but things never reached Brady’s levels of shenanigans. However, he did get a shout-out from the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback for his t-shirt on social media.

The Celtics are celebrating their 18th NBA title win in franchise history. Even former Patriots coach Bill Belichick congratulated them through a social media post.

Patriots fans are hopeful their team will be celebrating in another parade in the not-so-distant future. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility, depending on the career trajectories of rookie quarterback Drake Maye and coach Jerod Mayo.

Tom Brady loves Al Horford’s wobbly Tom Brady shirt for the Celtics parade

The perfect t-shirt for a championship parade.

The year was 2021. Tom Brady was … let’s say, a little wobbly … for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl parade that included the GOAT QB tossing the Lombardi Trophy from boat to boat.

He joked about it being a “little avocado tequila,” but it was classic.

Fast-forward to 2024. The Boston Celtics are celebrating their championship on Friday with a parade in Beantown, and first-time champion Al Horford decided there was one t-shirt to wear to represent the day ahead: that’s right, it’s wobbly Tom Brady! On a t-shirt! And Brady saw it and responded on X (formerly Twitter).

This is too funny:

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