Jun 17, 2024, 11:23 PM ET
The Dominican center broke almost 36 years of Dominican history in the NBA without the country being able to celebrate a championship won by one of its own.
The dream of Al Horford and for all his people it has come true. After 17 seasons in the NBA The native of Puerto Plata, north of his country’s capital, became the first Dominican in history to win a championship, after the victory of Boston Celtics about Dallas Mavericks in the fifth game of the Final of the 2023-24 season.
Horford who in his career as a player has accumulated success at the university level, with the Dominican Basketball Teamas well as five selections at Stars gameone to the team All-NBA and one to the team All-Defense of the NBA, now adds a championship from the most important basketball league in the world, which ensures serious consideration for the Hall of Fame.
Horford broke the mark set by Gary Payton in 2006 to become the player who has needed the most postseason games in the history of the league to win his first championship with 186 games played in the playoffs. Additionally, he removes his name from the list of players with the most playoff games played without reaching a championship, in which until this moment, he occupied second place, only behind Carl Malone (193),
Horford was a fundamental piece for the Celticswho had to rely on the Dominican to play quality minutes after the injury that kept him out for more than a month. Kristaps Porzingis at the start of the postseason. In the last game of the series, Horford He contributed nine points with nine rebounds and two assists, while completing three of six field goals, including two of his three attempts from the three-point range.
The triumph closes a cycle of almost 36 years of Dominican history in the NBA without a player from the Caribbean country being crowned champion. Coincidentally and as if it were a fantasy story, the first Dominican player in the history of the NBA was precisely the father of To the, Titus Horfordwho on November 9, 1988 debuted in the league as a member of Philadelphia 76ers.
