CelticsBlog's Adam Taylor has a good pulse on all things Boston Celtics, and his latest prediction is bittersweet and emotional for Cs fans who've watched the current core blossom into an NBA champion: the 2024-25 season could be Al Horford's final run.
"Right now, Horford is set to be the starting center for the opening months of the season as Kristaps Porzingis continues to recover from surgery," Taylor prefaced before saying, "Mazzulla must manage his veteran’s minutes with expert precision to ensure he’s at his best when the playoffs inevitably roll around. After all, there’s a good chance this is his last run in the league.
"So, while it’s easy to get swept up in the ebbs and flows of the season, and the goal of a championship will shine brightly in all of our minds, let’s try to enjoy each and every one of Horford’s minutes. He’s left it all on the line for the fanbase during both spells with the franchise. He’s helped lead a young locker room and show them how to approach the game as professionals."
Al Horford's replacement is likely already on Boston Celtics' roster
Back-to-back championships would be an apropos way for Horford to end his career after going back-to-back at Florida before being selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Of course, earning his first three-peat would be too, but from the sounds of it, Horford could've called it a career happily after winning Banner 18 but wanted to honor his contract.
Horford is an invaluable member of the team's top six. Without any of their starters, Horford is the go-to fill-in, and stepping in for the injured Kristaps Porzingis throughout the postseason proved how tough life will be without his timely contributions.
It's objectively sad that Horford is so close to retirement, but the silver lining is that he's such a professional that he's helping the team transition into the post-Al era; helping Xavier Tillman Sr. grow into the 38-year-old's current role.
Tillman couldn't have started his career with the Cs off better. He nailed a timely three-pointer in Game 3 of the Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, the true closeout game of that series for the Celtics. His few months coincided with Boston finishing the job on their historic regular season net rating.
The 2024-25 season will hopefully see Horford cede minutes to Tillman, who is the natural fill-in for No. 42 when he sails off into the sunset after a brilliant NBA career.
Horford's last great act as a pro could be making sure Tillman is ready for it.