When Al Horford was 14 years outdated, he left his house nation of the Dominican Republican to pursue a basketball profession in the US. Virtually 25 years later, the longtime Celtic returned because the highest-paid Latin American basketball participant of all time, and — most significantly — the nation’s first-ever NBA champion.
Accompanied by his spouse, Amelia Vega, and 4 children, Horford made the journey again to the nation the place he was born with the Larry O’Brien championship trophy in hand. Becoming a member of the the Horford household, Joe Mazzulla and Celtics assistant coach Tony Dobbins additionally boarded on the JetBlue Celtics plane, the Fortunate Blue.
Joe Mazzulla and Al Horford on the flight to the Dominican Republic, the place Horford is celebrating being the first-ever NBA champion from the DR
( Amelia Vega) pic.twitter.com/E1M5UDjwZX
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) September 10, 2024
The journey is only a week faraway from Mazzulla showcasing the trophy for his personal hometown group in Rhode Island.
It’s technically only a four-hour flight from Boston Logan Airport to the Dominican Republic. However, in all actuality, it took Horford many years to get to this second. He accrued extra playoff wins (185) than any lively NBA participant with out an NBA championship, and made the postseason 14 occasions earlier than it culminated within the final prize.
So, when he obtained it finished and the mud had settled, he couldn’t cease smiling.
“Persons are comfortable — this has by no means been finished earlier than,” Horford instructed media within the Dominican Republic.
“I left right here 24 years in the past, it’s loopy. To have the ability to come again right here with the trophy in hand, it’s one thing that’s particular for me and for my household.”
When the Celtics received the 2024 NBA championship, historical past was made in various nations. Kristaps Porzingis grew to become the first-ever NBA participant from Latvia to win a championship, Neemias Queta grew to become the primary from Portugal, and Horford from the DR.
“It was crucial for me to journey to the Dominican Republic to rejoice this victory with household, mates and family members in my homeland; this victory can be my nation’s,” Horford mentioned, per the Celtics.
Al’s mom, sports activities journalist Arelis Reynoso, shared a photograph of her son arriving with the trophy in hand.
As a youngster, Al Horford relocated to Michigan, the place his father, Tito, had settled after knowledgeable basketball profession that included three years within the NBA. Instantly, it was clear he picked up the sport. As his profession progressed, so did his acclaim in his house nation.
“The second he steps within the airport, folks start to crowd him,” Tito Horford instructed Time Journal in 2017. “On the road, persons are yelling, you see paparazzi. Baseball’s at all times No. 1 within the Dominican Republic, however folks looooove the NBA. They obtained the packages, they watch the video games, and he’s the principle one they watch.”
It doesn’t seem that’s modified over the previous seven years. Al Horford hosted a basketball camp flooded with children in La Romana, and was accompanied by his championship-winning head coach.
In lower than two weeks, Celtics coaching camp will resume, and the championship celebrations will lastly come to an finish. For now, the Larry O’Brien trophy had yet one more cease.
Horford introduced the trophy to the Nationwide Tempo and obtained one of many nation’s highest honors from President Luis Abinader: the Order of Advantage of Duarte, Sanchez, and Mella.
“I knew I used to be going to return meet the president, however I didn’t know I used to be gonna get the best award for the nation. Very particular for me, very particular for my household. Really feel very proud proper now. Very overwhelmed with quite a lot of emotion. Very, very special occasion for me right now.”
