Leading up to and through this weekend’s NBA All-Star game, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution will profile the Hawks’ participants. Today: Al Horford.
In September, Al Horford did a promotional recording for a local radio station trumpeting the return of Hawks basketball for another season. There was a little something extra in his message.
“I’m baaaaack, ATL,” he gave notice.
Horford is back indeed.
The Hawks center played only 29 games last season before a torn right pectoral muscle ended his season. It was the second similarly devastating injury of his career, as he played just 11 games the season before with a torn left pectoral muscle.
This season, Horford has announced his return in more ways than just his health. He is returning to the NBA All-Star game after a three-year absence after being named an Eastern Conference reserve last month. It was a clear signal that the now three-time All-Star is back on top of his game.
“There is a lot of adversity that I have gone through the past couple of years,” Horford said. “It feels really good. I have great support from my family, friends and teammates. My faith always kept me focused and strong. I’m happy to be in this position again.”
Horford will be joined in New York by teammates Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague and coach Mike Budenholzer, as the Hawks will dominate the East squad.
Horford was an All-Star during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. He will return to the midseason exhibition healthy and the anchor of a Hawks team that has proved to be the best in the East. Horford is averaging 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 blocks in 30.6 minutes over 51 games. He ranks 10th in the NBA in field-goal percentage (.539) and 14th in field goals made (349). He has missed only two games this season, one because of the flu and one for rest.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer has raved about Horford’s versatility. While the team brought Horford back from injury slowly, limiting him in the preseason, he gradually returned to All-Star form. Budenholzer said there was no magic moment when it was clear Horford was back at 100 percent. It is clear now.
Opposing coaches have taken notice as well. Before a recent game, Pelicans coach Monty Williams called Horford an MVP candidate.
“He can dribble and move around,” Williams said. “He can pass. He can shoot it. He steps out and shoot 3s. He is an MVP candidate in my book. I don’t know why people don’t talk about him in that regard. He has been one of the best players I’ve seen.
“When you watch him on film, he is sound at the rim defensively. His ability to read screen or not screen, when he doesn’t need to and slip out, he has been doing it for years. People have taken notice now because he’s healthy and they are winning a lot of games.”
His play on defense has been a sense of pride for Horford, especially this season as he as fully grasped Budenholzer’s system. Even at 6-foot-10, 245 pounds, Horford has been an anchor in the middle as the Hawks place a priority on guarding the paint.
“Once I learned the concepts and understood what Coach wanted from me, it made everything easier to go out there and be aggressive and play my game defensively,” Horford said.
However, there is no denying Horford’s versatility on offense. He and Teague have returned to the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop game that frustrates the opposition. Horford has consistently knocked down the 15- to 18-foot jump shot, a staple of his game. He twice has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, including the period when he recorded his first career triple-double in a January game against the 76ers. He was part of the Hawks’ starting five that collectively was named the Player of the Month for January by the NBA after a 17-0 month.
Horford recently was asked what of his three All-Star selections was the most special.
“I think this one, for me, just because what we are doing as a team this year and because of the adversity that I had to go through,” Horford said. “It just feels really good.”
