Al Horford is spending the beginning of June in Italy participating in Basketball Without Borders Europe, which concluded Thursday. The Hawks center recently spoke to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from Rome about the camp, his rehabilitation from on a torn right pectoral muscle, his role with the Hawks next season, the upcoming NBA draft and the 2013-14 season.
Q. How does this Basketball Without Borders camp in Europe compare to the others you have done in the Africa, Asia and the Americas?
A. It's different. The skill level of the players here in Europe is much more advanced in comparison to some of the other continents and countries that I have been able to be a part of. It's impressive.
Q. Are you able to do more advanced skill work with these players or are the camps still the same?
A. A lot of these guys have been playing for pro teams from 14, 15 years old. They are at the point now to take it to another level. Some will even go on to play college basketball. So yes, you can do a little more with them than you could normally do. More than anything, they are out there competing and playing hard.
Q. Is there another Dennis Schroder there?
A. There could be. I was very surprised. There are some point guards that look really good and a couple of athletic wings. It will be interesting to see in the next four or five years who comes out of this group.
Q. What else have you been doing in Rome off the court? I know you had a (28th) birthday over there.
A. I'm acting like a tourist. My wife and I have been going all over. We toured the Coliseum and have been going all over the city of Rome. That has been really nice. We've done some stuff as a group with the other NBA guys, walking around, seeing the city and going out to dinner. That has been really fun. I'm also sneaking in my workouts when I can after the camps. I'm staying busy.
Q. How are your workouts going? How are you progressing?
A. It's coming along OK. At this point I'm trying to do what I can. Especially being overseas, I'm a little more limited. I'm lucky to have (assistant) coach Darvin Ham here with me. He is part of the camps. So after we get done with the campers we are getting a little work in on the court. That is always good.
Q. Are you 80 percent? 90 percent? Can you put a percentage on how close you are to being healthy?
A. It's hard to say, specifically. I feel really good. I haven't done any contact yet. That is definitely my biggest gauge. That is how I'm going to be able to tell where I'm at physically. Right now, I worked out early, and I went in the weight room and did some light stuff. The shoulder still gets pretty sore. That is one thing. The other thing is to be able to go out and start banging against people and playing. Doing contact, that is where I feel like that is where I'm going to tell where I'm at as far as a percentage.
Q. What is the process from here? How long will you stay in Europe and when will you come back to Atlanta and start ramping up the workouts?
A. My plan for the summer, I'll be here for about 10 more days. Then get back to Atlanta and start working out with the guys and coaches. Basically, I'll be in Atlanta for most of the summer. I'll probably make it down to Gainesville (Florida) to work out with the guys for a couple weeks but my base will be Atlanta working out with the coaches and getting ready for the season. I'll stay here and relax a couple more days before I come back and hit the ground running.
Q. As a player, how do you look at what the team might do in the (upcoming NBA) draft considering so much of the core is coming back?
A. It's going to be interesting. I haven't really had a chance to sit down and talk to coach (Mike Budenholzer) and (general manager) Danny (Ferry) about the future. When you start looking at our team they are going to have to evaluate where we might need some help. We do have a lot of pieces and our core group is very strong. It will be interesting to see what direction we go in the draft. Once I get back I would like to sit down and talk to coach, talk to Danny and see what they are thinking. I know they are going to figure something out. Last summer they put a first-rate team together and I know they'll do it again this year.
Q. Eventually, would you like to move more of the power forward?
A. I'm still comfortable playing the (center). I feel the way the game is changing now, I think I can play both 4 and 5. Obviously with Pero (Antic) playing the way he did last year, I feel at times I will be able to play some 4 and at times I will play some 5 with Paul (Millsap) in there. We have a good mix going.
Q. Is that to be discussed?
A. I haven't had any of those conversations but that is the way I see it. I'm preparing this summer to keep expanding my game and keep working on my game and do whatever coach tells me to do.
Q. You think you will be ready by the start of training camp?
A. I'll be fine. I'm very confident I'll be good to go. It's been a little longer recovery than I expected but there is no question that I will be ready to go by training camp.
Q. What are your final thoughts about the season? I know it was disappointing for you personally but how do you feel about the strides the team made this year?
A. More than anything, I'm excited about it. You find out a lot about a team when there is adversity and you are down. Obviously, I wish I was out there competing and playing with the guys and fighting but it didn't happen that way. I'm most proud of the way the team handled everything. I felt like guys got better, grew tighter and closer together as a unit. I'm encouraged by that. I'm ready to come into this coming season and really fit into that and try to make the team better.
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