Boston Celtics big man Al Horford has been a huge piece for the team during its run to the NBA Finals this season.
The Celtics traded for Horford in the offseason in a deal that sent guard Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Horford, who had played for the Celtics earlier in his career, left the team for the Philadelphia 76ers after the 2018-19 season. He spent one season with the Sixers, and it was a down year for him. His siblings recently revealed that they actually still rooted for the Celtics when Horford was away from the team.
Horford’s sisters Anna and Maria, along with their brother Josh, shared why they remained fans of the Celtics.
“We stayed Celtics fans when he was in Philly and when he was in OKC. We couldn’t let go,” Maria Horford said to The Athletic. “They showed us so much love, and that wasn’t something we were ready to let go of, so we just never did. And we’re back!”
Anna Horford also explained that Philly fans didn’t exactly show a lot of love.
“Philly fans hated us there,” Anna Horford said. “They hated us for it.”
Al Horford lasted just one season in Philadelphia before he was dealt to the Thunder. Josh Horford explained why Boston is a better place for his brother to play than Philly and why his family continued to root for the Celtics no matter what.
“We continued to root for Boston, because they’re not d—heads,” Josh Horford said.
Now, Al Horford has a chance to lead the Celtics to an NBA title this season. The five-time All-Star has stepped up in a major way in the playoffs on both ends of the floor.
The former first-round pick is averaging 12.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game in the playoffs while shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 46.4 percent from beyond the arc.
The Celtics are just two victories away from winning it all, which is something that the entire Horford family certainly hopes will happen.
