Al Horford admits it will be weird.
The Hawks center will look to the opposing sideline tonight and see Billy Donovan. The two are nearly nine years removed from when as player and coach they won back-to-back national championships at the University of Florida. Horford would go on to the NBA as the No. 3 overall pick of the Hawks. Donovan would remain until this summer when he jumped from the college ranks to become a first-year head coach of the Thunder.
“I’m not used to him being at this level,” Horford said Monday morning.
Horford credited Donovan with getting the best out of him as a player in their three years together at Florida.
“He always encourages guys to work hard,” Horford said. “He really pushes you beyond what you think you can accomplish. A lot of the time with his players, we get that we are on one level but he gets you to another level. That’s what he did with me at least. He gave me that confidence, that ability, for me to take that next step.”
The two had not yet met as of the morning. That opportunity will come tonight.
Donovan has faced several of his former players already this season – including Matt Bonner of the Spurs and Joakim Noah of the Bulls, who was on those championship teams with Horford.
Donovan marveled at how far Horford has come as a player now in his ninth NBA season. The fact that the center has increased his range to the 3-point line is not a surprise – even for the 18-year old with limited offense skills that walked on the Gainesville campus all those years ago.
“He has really worked hard,” Donovan said. “It’s amazing when I had him his freshman year, he was very, very limited offensively. He was pretty much just a right jump hook guy. That was it. Sophomore year, he started to develop his left hand. Then, by the time he was a junior, he was stepping away shooting 15-18 feet. So, I’m not surprised that he stretched his range out to (the 3-point line). He is one of those guys that always adds different things to his game every year. He is one of those guys who always improves.”
Horford has developed into a three-time NBA All-Star. While Donovan appreciates his on-court ability, it’s off the court where he sees Horford biggest contributions.
“People can evaluate Al on the court, his game and how it’s evolved but where he is special and where Noah is special is in the locker room,” Donovan said. “That’s where those guys are great. A lot of people don’t get a chance to see that side of those guys. They are winners and they can have an incredible impact on their teammates.”
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