Al Horford showed up at Raising Cane's at 755 Boylston St on June 20 with a smile on his face nearly the entire time just three days after the Boston Celtics won the 2023-24 NBA Championship in a one-sided five-game series with the Dallas Mavericks.
Lauding the city of Boston and admitting the city caught his eyes the very first time he visited as a rookie with the Atlanta Hawks on November 9, 2007, it was clear that Horford was cherishing this title with a team he signed with the first chance he was free to sign anywhere -- and a team he came back to with open arms after Brad Stevens became President of Basketball Operations and helped elevate in the past three years.
"I am just very proud to be able to bring a championship to Boston," Horford prefaced before saying, "It has been hard, a lot of hard work, and a lot of tough losses over the years, but just to get to this point I am very grateful."
Al Horford didn't celebrate with Boston Celtics teammates in Miami
Jayson Tatum has been going viral for his Banner 18 celebrations, but Horford has been absent in the post-title celebration tour; a tour that made its way through Miami in the most rubbing-it-in of fashions.
As he admitted during the pre-Raising Cane's shift press scrum, Horford had left the house just once before the promotional appearance. Instead, he's been resting with family.
Could that be a sign of things to come? Perhaps Horford isn't into making appearances like that. While his body is holding up better than just "fine," the grind of so many seasons in the league may have the proud Dominican wanting to transition to a more private life.
No one would blame No. 42 if the 2024-25 season was his last ride, but he has an indefinite invite to be on Boston's roster until he retires now post-Banner 18.
