Horford happy to embrace role with Thunder
Al Horford doesn't leap like he used to, but the 34- year-old Thunder center jumped in celebration last week when Justin Jackson' s late 3- pointer buried the Bucks.
“The whole time when he shot it,” Horford said, “I was just like, `Please go in.'”
Horford didn't have to plead for too many victories in the first 13 years of his career.
In nine seasons with
the Hawks, three with the Celtics and one with t he 76ers, Horford was only on two losing teams.
If H or ford remains with the Thunder (12-19) past the March 25 trade deadline, he' s almost certainly adding a fourth losing season in the 14th year of his career.
But H or ford, who would surely prefer playing for a contender, has publicly embraced his veteran role on a rebuilding team that' s sixth-youngest in the NBA. Wednesday night against the Spurs, Horford is likely to start alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (22), Luguentz Dort (21), Darius Bazley (20) and Theo Maledon (19). Maledon was 5 years old when Horford won his second NCAA title at Florida.
Horford is sharing his NBA wisdom with an inexperienced Thunder team, but it's a two-way street. This latest version of Thunder U is keeping Horford young.
“We have a great group of guys,” Horford said. “It' s something that has really impressed me since I' ve gotten here, just the willingness of our group to work, to focus, to try to be better. It makes it easier for me. It motivates me to be there for them and try to help them in any way that I can.”
Horford's role is far from ceremonial. He's averaging 14.5 points per game — the most since his last season in Atlanta — with 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He's second on the Thunder in player efficiency rating behind Gilgeous-Alexander, and Horford's game is still
evolving.
Aside from anchoring the Thunder's defense, the five-time All-Star is attempting a career-high 5.6 3-pointers per game, and he's shooting 38% from behind the arc.
Horford attempted 65 3- pointer sin his first eight NBA seasons combined (496 games). He's attempted 118 3-pointers in 21 games with the Thunder.
“I think it' s just the way that we're playing,” Horford said. “I'm put in positions that I have to take some of those shots, and I feel fine doing it. But I just believe it's the way that the offense is and where I'm at on the floor.”
Do rt is the only Thunder attempting more 3- pointers per game than Horford.
“To be honest with you, I really don't micromanage him offensively at all ,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, who's a year older than Horford. “He's better if you give him the space to make those decisions on his own as to whether to shoot, transfer it, drive. His intentions are so pure and so team- oriented that I really don't lean on him a ton there.”
Horford, who always rest son the second night of a back-to-back, didn't suit up Monday night against the Heat, but he and f ell ow veteran George Hill, who's recovering from thumb surgery, sat in their usual spots on the front row of the Thunder's bench.
They lobbied for calls and stayed engaged during timeout huddles.
“A lot of vets talk a lot, a lot of vets area little more reserved ,” Horford said. “I kinda try to find my spots because I don't want to be that guy that's talking all the time — this old guy that's giving commands all the time and people are just giving you the eye.”
But that hasn't been a problem.
“If he feels the need to say something to us during the game or during the flow of practice, we all listen to him and take heed to what he' s saying ,” center Isaiah Roby said. “Personally, he's come at me with a lot of encouragement. That's kind of been his biggest thing with me, instilling confidence in me and giving me tips here and there.”
“He's just what you call a true veteran, a true pro ,” guard Hamidou Diallo said.
Sam Pres ti and the Thunder front office knew that' s what they were getting when they flipped Danny Green, Terrance Ferguson and Vincent Poirier to Philadelphia in the offseason for H or ford, the pick that became Maledon and a top- six protected 2025 firstround pick.
The first-round pick was the biggest prize, Maledon is looking like a second-round steal and taking on Horford, with three years and $81 million remaining on his contract, was the price the Thunder had to pay.
Trading H or ford' s contract will be a hurdle, but until that time comes there's value in keeping him around.
“Philosophical ly he just believes in team basketball and he's walked that walk for along time,” Daigneault said. “It's had such a contagious effect on our guys and we' re just a better team when he's out there on the court. He's just a flat-out winner.”