Al Horford Reference on Basketball, Career, Country, Stat, Biography
Al Horford Reference on Basketball, Career, Country, Stat, Biography
Al Horford is the first Dominican basketball player who plays power forward for the Philadelphia 76ers. He was born on June 3, 1986, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and moved to Michigan as a teenager. He attended the University of Florida, where he was a key component of the Gators winning back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. Horford left school after his junior season and was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks third overall in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Horford was an immediate starter with the Hawks and played in Atlanta for nine seasons, becoming a four-time all-star. As a free agent during the summer of 2016, Horford signed a four-year, $113 million contract to join the Boston Celtics. He immediately became an important part of Boston’s roster and was selected to the All-Star Game for the fifth time in 2018. That same year, Horford was named to the All-Defensive Second Team.
As a free agent in 2019, Horford signed a four-year, $97 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Horford has also played for the Dominican Republic national team since 2008.
AL HORFORD BASKETBALL CAREER
After spending his childhood in the Dominican Republic, Horford and his family moved to Grand Ledge, Michigan, in 2000 when he was 14. As a senior, he averaged 21 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks per game and was named Class A Player of the Year. Horford still holds multiple school records. He was considered a top-50 player and among the top-10 power forwards in his high school class by most recruiting services.
Horford chose to play college basketball for the Florida Gators under head coach Billy Donovan. As a freshman, Horford started 25 of his team’s 32 games, playing alongside former NBA player David Lee. He averaged 5.6 points and 6.5 rebounds a game while helping the Gators win the SEC Tournament and finish the season 24-8.
As a sophomore, Horford started every game, averaging 11.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He played a key role in Florida winning the NCAA Tournament, scoring 14 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the national championship game. Despite the lure of the NBA, Horford and his Florida teammates returned to school the following season, winning a second straight national championship. Horford missed time due to injury but ultimately played in 36 games, averaging 13.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. A few days after winning a second straight national championship, Horford declared for the NBA Draft along with teammates Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green.
Career
The Atlanta Hawks selected Horford 3rd overall in the 2007 NBA Draft. He stepped into the starting lineup almost immediately, starting 77 of 81 games as a rookie while averaging 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. He was a unanimous selection on the NBA All-Rookie First Team and the runner-up to Kevin Durant for Rookie of the Year honors.
During the 2009-10 season, Horford made the All-Star Team for the first time, averaging 14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. The Hawks rewarded him the following summer with a five-year, $60 million extension. He made the All-Star Team again in 2011 but missed most of the 2011-12 season because of a torn pectoral. He suffered another torn pectoral that limited him to 29 games during the 2013-14 season.
Fortunately, Horford was able to put the injuries behind him, returning to the All-Star Game in 2015 and 2016. During the summer of 2016, Horford left Atlanta to sign a four-year, $113 million contract with the Boston Celtics. He helped the Celtics reach the Eastern Conference Finals in both 2017 and 2018. Horford was named an all-star for the fifth time in 2018. In July 2019, Horford signed a four-year, $97 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. At the time the 2019-20 NBA season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, Horford was averaging 12 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while playing alongside Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris in the Philadelphia frontcourt.
AL HORFORD NET WORTH, SALARY, ENDORSEMENTS & CAREER EARNINGS
Ahead of the 2019-20 season, Al Horford made over $160 million in salary during his NBA career. His deal with the Boston Celtics in 2016 caused his annual salary to jump from $12 million to over $25 million. During his career, Horford has also had at least a dozen endorsement deals. The list of companies that have signed endorsement deals with Horford includes Nike, Dove, JBL, Intel, Panini, Dunkin’ Donuts, Banco Popular, and Unilever.
Al Horford signed a four-year, $17.4 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks in 2017.
Al Horford signed a five-year, $60 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks in 2010.
Al Horford signed a four-year, $113 million deal with the Boston Celtics in 2016.
Al Horford signed a four-year, $97 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019.
AL HORFORD PERSONAL LIFE
Horford was born in the Dominican Republic to parents Tito Horford and Arelis Reynoso. His father played college basketball in Miami and had a brief NBA career after being selected in the Second Round of the 1988 NBA Draft. Horford was one of six kids in his family. His brother Jon played college basketball at both Michigan and Florida before spending time in the G League.
Since 2011, Horford has been married to Amelia Vega, who was Miss Dominican Republic in 2002 and Miss Universe in 2003. The couple now has three children, a son named Ean and two daughters named Alía and Ava Amelia.
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
AL HORFORD FUN FACTS and stats
- Al Horford’s father Tito was the first NBA player to be born in the Dominican Republic.
- Al Horford’s wife Amelia Vega was the first Dominican contestant to win Miss Universe.
- While playing for the Dominican Republic at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship, Al Horford helped his team win a Bronze Medal.
- Al Horford has five siblings, all of whom are younger than him.
- One of Al Horford’s sisters, Anna, hosts the Horford Happy Hour podcast, which is part of the CLNS Media Network.
- Al Horford’s uncle Kelly Horford played college basketball at Florida Atlantic in the early 90s.