The Boston Celtics walked into Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night for their first game out of the All-Star break. They were looking to carry over their successes from before the pause, while the Philadelphia 76ers were hoping to get on the right track. Yet Sixers fans were more focused on booing Al Horford, and he loved it. “It’s great. It’s fun, it’s fun,” Horford said with a smile via Noa Dalzell of SB Nation. “I like it. They care enough to boo. It’s good to be cared for.”
Horford entered the game and the crowd sent a flow of boos his way. Anytime Horford plays in front of the Philly crowd, he gets booed. But it’s not the same as Celtics fans booing Kyrie Irving, Sixers fans booing Ben Simmons, or even Houston Rockets fans booing James Harden.
They should be booing the organization, not Horford himself.
76ers prove their own cluelessness by booing Al Horford
In the cases of Irving, Simmons, and Harden, the players were the problems. Irving said he would re-sign but didn’t. Simmons quit on the organization. Harden let himself go and forced the team to trade him.
Al Horford said he likes the 76ers booing him:
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) February 21, 2025
“They care enough to boo. It’s good to be cared for.” pic.twitter.com/g9VGnEZruz
At a certain point, fans should let it go, but it at least makes sense why they continue to boo the players. They feel as though they wronged their favorite team.
What did Horford do?
Is it Horford’s fault that the Sixers used him in the wrong way? Is is Horford’s fault that they put together a lineup with horrible spacing and forced him to play a role he wasn’t used to? Did Horford request a trade? Did Horford let himself go?
No on all accounts.
Philadelphia tried to have Horford play next to a center that camped in the paint full-time. Boston has capitalized on Horford’s floor-spacing while also putting another shooter next to him in the front-court. It was almost as if the Sixers prioritized taking something away from Boston instead of trying to put together a good lineup on their end. That’s on the front office, not Horford.
Then, when the Horford experiment failed, the Sixers dumped him in a trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Horford didn’t quit, ask to leave, or let himself go. The Sixers traded him.
It’s not Horford’s fault that the Sixers did a terrible job of building the roster. They have a history of that.
Tobias Harris over Jimmy Butler. Signing Horford to that contract just to jump his salary. Trading for Harden just to have him pull a Harden. And now, the Paul George deal doesn’t look too great, either.
Philly fans are throwing their boos in the wrong direction. But unfortunately for them, Horford enjoys it. And his thank-you gift has been a steady stream of three-pointers right down their throats.