The 2024 NBA Finals are set to get underway, and Celtics veteran Al Horford has another chance to take his name off of an infamous list.
Horford has seen nothing but success in his 17-year NBA career. He has only missed the playoffs twice, and he’s been a part of six Eastern Conference Finals teams. Despite his constant contributions to winning, Horford has never claimed an NBA title.
Horford has played in 181 playoff games and counting — the third most in NBA history for players without a championship ring. Only Karl Malone (193) games and John Stockton (182) are ahead of Horford on that list.
As Horford takes another shot at the elusive Larry O’Brien trophy, take a look back at his career timeline that has gotten him to this point.
Al Horford career timeline
2007 NBA Draft
After three seasons at Florida that led to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, Horford became one of the most coveted prospects in his draft class.
He was taken by the Hawks with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, going behind No. 1 pick Greg Oden (Trail Blazers) and No. 2 pick Kevin Durant (Sonics).
There are only four remaining active players from the 2007 draft class: Horford, Durant, Mike Conley, and Jeff Green.
2007-2016: Atlanta Hawks
Horford spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Hawks.
He was Rookie of the Year runner-up to Durant in 2008, averaging 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Horford steadily improved every year, developing into a four-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA player.
Alongside a core of Joe Johnson, Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap, and Kyle Korver, the Hawks were consistently one of the best teams in the East during Horford’s tenure. Atlanta qualified for the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons but only reached the Conference Finals one time (2015).
Like most East teams during the 2000s and 2010s, the Hawks couldn’t overcome LeBron James’ Cavaliers or Heat.
Horford averaged 14.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game with Atlanta. He signed a five-year, $60 million extension with the Hawks in 2010 but elected to take his talents elsewhere at the end of that deal.
2016-2019: Boston Celtics
In the summer of 2016, the Celtics inked Horford to a four-year, $113 max contract. That put the All-Star big man in position to hold down the frontcourt for a promising young core that included Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart, and rookie Jaylen Brown.
One year later, Boston drafted Jayson Tatum, pulled off a sign-and-trade for Gordon Hayward, and traded for Kyrie Irving, beginning to build what was supposed to be a super team. Injuries and other conflicts prevented that team from reaching its full potential, but Horford still made back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in his first two seasons with the Celtics.
Over three seasons in Boston, Horford averaged 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 blocks while picking up another All-Star nomination and his lone All-Defensive Team nod.
After the Celtics fell short in the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs, Horford elected to sign a four-year, $104 million deal with Boston’s rival, the 76ers.
2019-20: Philadelphia 76ers
Horford was known for his ability to contain 76ers star center Joel Embiid during his time in Boston. His new deal allowed him to join forces with his counterpart in pursuit of a championship ring.
Things did not go as planned for Horford during his time in Philadelphia, though. The Embiid and Horford frontcourt didn’t click the way the 76ers front office had hoped, leading to a down year for the veteran forward.
Horford only averaged 11.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and was forced to test out a role off the bench for the first time since his rookie season.
Horford and the 76ers were swept by the Celtics in the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs in the bubble. Once it was clear the pairing wouldn’t work, Philadelphia traded Horford one year into his new contract.
2020-21: Oklahoma City Thunder
Horford only spent one season of his four-year deal in Philadelphia before he was used as a salary dump in a trade to the Thunder to acquire Danny Green.
With Oklahoma City in a full rebuild, Horford’s fit didn’t make a lot of sense as a veteran looking for his first championship ring. He played 28 games in a Thunder uniform during the 2020-21 season before coming to a mutual agreement with the coaching staff and front office that he would sit out the remainder of the year.
The move allowed Oklahoma City to let its younger players develop. In return, the front office traded Horford back to the Celtics in the offseason.
2021-Present: Boston Celtics
When Brad Stevens shockingly stepped down as head coach of the Celtics and took over as president of basketball operations, his first order of business was trading for Horford.
The Celtics sent injured veteran Kemba Walker, a 2021 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick to the Thunder to bring the five-time All-Star back to Boston.
Horford was quick to prove he still had plenty left in the tank, jumping right back into a starting role with the Celtics. He has played in at least 63 games in each of his three seasons since his return and was an everyday starter until the team acquired Kristaps Porzinigs this past offseason.
Horford’s averages of 9.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game over the past three years might not jump off the page, but his impact goes well beyond the box score.
Now, he is playing an integral role on a Celtics team that is four wins away from its first championship ring since 2008.