Al Horford Reinvented His Game After Atlanta Hawks General Manager Told Him About Extending His Career In The NBA: “You Should Start Shooting Corner Threes”

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Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Al Horford proved to be the difference-maker for the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, as Boston overcame the Golden State Warriors and stole a road win. Horford’s 26 points on electric three-point shooting led the Celtics in scoring as he had an incredible Finals debut after ending the longest streak of playoff games with a Finals appearance.

Horford is one of the oldest players in the league, as the 36-year-old has found a way to become invaluable to Boston this season. He was getting benched while healthy on the tanking Oklahoma City Thunder last season, but Horford has proven he has a few more years left in the NBA.

His ability to stretch the floor as a center is crucial in making him an attractive option for teams despite his age. However, Horford wasn’t always a shooter and decided to start working on his threes after advice from Rick Sund, former General Manager of the Atlanta Hawks.

“Rick is the one that told me, ‘Man, you have a really good mid-range. You should start shooting corner threes, that’s going to help extend your career,’” the Celtics big man told Yahoo Sports as he was leaving Chase Center after practice Saturday. “I used to be a banger down low and posting up. He was like, ‘Man, you’re not going to last in this league if you keep playing like that.’ Rick Sund was the first to tell me.” (h/t Yahoo Sports)

Horford made an extremely wise decision by becoming a prolific shooter, giving the Celtics additional offensive versatility by having him on the team and on the floor. 

If Horford can continue developing into a better three-point shooter in his late-forties, the decision to retire may be completely left up to him as teams in the league can always find room for a veteran shooting big-man like Horford. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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