Al Horford: From Early Life To Professional NBA Career

On June 3, 1986, Alfred Joel Horford Reynoso was born. He is a professional basketball player from the Dominican Republic who now plays for the Boston Celtics of the NBA (NBA). Horford, who goes by the nickname “Big Al,” is a five-time NBA All-Star and the highest-paid Latin American basketball player.

He was a starting center for the Florida Gators in collegiate basketball, where he helped them win back-to-back National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national championships in 2006 and 2007. The Atlanta Hawks selected him with the third overall pick in the NBA draft in 2007. The franchise with whom he spent nine seasons before joining as a free agent with the Celtics in the 2016 off-season. He signed with the 76ers in the 2019 off-season after three seasons with the Celtics. Horford was dealt with the Celtics in exchange for Kemba Walker and a first-round pick prior to the 2021 season.

Name:Al Horford
Salary:$5 Million +
Monthly Income:$0.5 Million +
Date of Birth:June 3, 1986
Gender:Male
Height:2.06m. (6’ 9”)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Profession:Basketball Player
Nationality:Dominican

Early Life And Family Background Of Al Horford

Al Horford was born on June 3, 1986, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. His father, Tito Horford, played professional basketball in the Dominican Republic and his mother, Arelis Reynoso, was a volleyball player. Al has two sisters, Anna and Marina. 

Al’s father helped him develop his skills and encouraged him to play basketball. At a young age, Al showed great potential as a player. When he was just 14 years old, he moved to the United States to attend Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts. 

At Lawrence Academy, Al quickly emerged as one of the top high school players in the country. He led his team to a state championship and was named a McDonald’s All-American. In 2004, Al Horford enrolled at the University of Florida. He starred for the Gators for three years and helped lead them to two NCAA Championships. After an outstanding collegiate career, Al Horford was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the third overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. He has since gone on to have a successful career in the NBA, becoming one of the league’s top players.

Early Life And Family Background Of Al Horford

High School Career Of Al Horford

Horford and his family relocated to Lansing, Michigan, in 2000, where he was a standout basketball player at Grand Ledge High School in Grand Ledge, Michigan. Horford has seven school records, including the most points in his career (1,239). After averaging 21 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks per game as a senior, he was awarded Class A Player of the Year. Horford played AAU basketball with the Michigan Mustangs, who finished second in the Adidas Big Time National Tournament while at Grand Ledge. Horford, a four-star recruit, was ranked as the No. 7 power forward and No. 36 player in the country by Rivals.com in 2004.

College Career Of Al Horford

Horford chose the University of Florida over Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State after receiving an athletic scholarship. He was a member of the squad that included Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, and Taurean Green, and he was coached by Billy Donovan. In 2004–05, he had an early impact for the Gators, starting at center in the front court with David Lee and helping the team win the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

The Gators dominated the 2005–06 season, earning the SEC title for the second year in a row. They were seeded third in the NCAA Tournament in 2006. To get to the Final Four, the Gators cruised through the first four rounds. They overcame George Mason in the semifinals to advance to the championship. In the final, they defeated UCLA for the 2006 championship behind Horford’s 14 points and seven rebounds.

On April 2, 2007, the Gators became the first team since the 1991–92 Duke Blue Devils to repeat as national champions and the first to do it with the same starting lineup. In a rematch from the regular season, they beat Oden and Ohio State 84-75. Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, and Taurean Green all declared for the NBA draft three days later.

Professional Career Of Al Horford

Atlanta Hawks (2007–2016)

All-Rookie Honor Season (2007–2008)

Horford was taken third overall in the 2007 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks on June 28, 2007. He signed his rookie scale deal with the Hawks on July 9. Horford was the only player unanimously picked to the NBA All-Rookie First Team as a rookie in 2007–08; he was also runner-up for Rookie of the Year and awarded Rookie of the Month four times. Since Stacey Augmon in 1991–92, he became the first Atlanta draftee to receive first-team accolades. Horford played 31.4 minutes per game and averaged 10.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 0.7 steals in 81 games.

The Hawks concluded the regular season with a 37–45 record and were seeded eighth in the Eastern Conference for the playoffs. Horford helped the Hawks take the eventual champions, the Boston Celtics, to seven games in their first-round matchup, but the Hawks lost the series 4–3. Horford averaged 12.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per game in the series.

All-Star Selection (2008-2011 Seasons)

Horford had a tremendous season in 2009–10, becoming the first Hawks draft selection since Kevin Willis in 1992 to win an All-Star spot. Horford appeared in 81 games and averaged 14.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 0.7 steals in 35.1 minutes (.551 FG%,.789 FT%). In the NBA, he was seventh in field goal percentage, tenth in rebounds, ninth in offensive rebounds (2.9), and twenty-sixth in blocks. He tied for 11th in the NBA with 39 double-doubles, which was a team-high.

Horford was an All-Star for the second year in a row during the 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend. And he was also a member of the Atlanta squad that won the Shooting Stars Competition.  He averaged 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 0.8 steals in 77 games in 2010–11. (.557 FG percent , .500 3FG percent , .798 FT percent ).

He was sixth in field goal percentage, 28th in blocks, and 16th in efficiency in the NBA (22.5). Furthermore, He was also one of the league’s best all-around rebounders. Ranking 11th in rebounds, seventh in defensive rebounds (7.0), and 24th in offensive rebounds (2.4). He recorded 36 double-doubles, including one 20/20 game, which matched him for ninth in the NBA. He was chosen to the NBA’s Third All-Star Team.

Boston Celtics (2016–2019)

Horford became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2016. The Hawks were hopeful that they might reach an agreement with Horford, but after spending so much of their salary limit on Dwight Howard, landing Horford would have required a max offer. On July 8, Horford agreed to a four-year, $113 million contract with the Boston Celtics, saying he was excited to work with Celtics head coach Brad Stevens and the rest of the club to bring a championship trophy back to Boston. On October 26, 2016, he made his Celtics debut, scoring 11 points in a 122–117 win over the Brooklyn Nets in the team’s season opener.

Horford scored 14 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in a 113–101 loss against the Raptors on October 19, 2018. He missed seven games in December due to a painful left knee. In a 112–103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on December 29, he scored 18 points, including a career-high five 3-pointers. Again, In a 98–97 defeat against the Bucks on February 21, 2019, he had 21 points and a season-high 17 rebounds. Moreover, In a 110–105 win over the Miami Heat on April 1, he had his second career triple-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Philadelphia 76ers (2019–2020)

On July 10, 2019, Horford inked a four-year, $97 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. After spending the first five seasons of his career with the Atlanta Hawks, Horford became an unrestricted free agent. On November 4th, he had a season-high 32 points in a 114–109 loss.

Oklahoma City Thunder (2020–2021)

On December 8, 2020, Horford got to play for the Oklahoma City Thunder. 3 months after Billy Donovan left the Thunder, Horford signed with them. On March 27, 2021, the Thunder announced that he would miss the rest of the campaign as part of their plan to focus on nurturing younger players like Moses Brown, Isaiah Roby, and Tony Bradley.

Return to the Celtics (2021–present)

Horford, Moses Brown, and a 2023 second-round selection pick from the Thunder were sold to Boston on June 18, 2021, in exchange for guard Kemba Walker. The 16th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft and a 2025 second-round draft pick. Furthermore, Horford set a season-best with 21 points and 15 rebounds in a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on March 3, 2022.

Horford had 22 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and zero turnovers in a 103–101 loss to the reigning champions Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 7, 2022. Moreover, Horford followed up two days later with a playoff career-high 30 points. And He had 8 rebounds on 11-of-14 shooting from the field.

On May 29, 2022, Horford reached the NBA Finals for the first time in his 15-year career when the Celtics defeated the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, 100–96.

National Team Career Of Al Horford

Horford has been a part of the Dominican Republic national basketball team since 2008. In 2011, he won a bronze medal at the FIBA Americas Championship and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Al Horford – Relationship Status

Al Horford is married to his high school sweetheart, Amelia Vega. The couple has two children together: a son named Ean and a daughter named Ayala. Moreover, Vega is a former Miss Universe, and Horford is an NBA All-Star, so it’s safe to say that they are one good-looking couple. And they seem to be just as good at parenting as they are at looking good, which is refreshing to see. 

 Horford is very active on social media and often posts about his wife and kids. He frequently posts pictures of them on vacations or at home just hanging out together, and he always has nothing but nice things to say about them. It’s clear that Al Horford is head-over-heels in love with his wife and kids. And we can’t help but admire him for it.

Al Horford Relationship Status

Al Horford – Salary And Net Worth

Al Horford is worth $70 million dollars. Further, Al Horford, the most famous Dominican professional basketball player, is also projected to have a net worth of over $70 million.

Al Horford has a net worth of 70 million dollars, as previously stated. Throughout his life, he has earned over 120 million dollars as a salary. He has also made a total of $20 million through brand endorsements. His current contract with the Boston Celtics expires in December 2022.

Al Horford Salary And Net Worth

Social Media Presence

Instagram – alhorford

Twitter – @Al_Horford

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