Al Horford is in his 17th season in the NBA. Horford was a starting center for his first 16 years in the league. However, following the addition of Kristaps Porzingis this summer, the veteran big man was moved into a bench role.
It’s not that Horford isn’t capable of being a starter anymore. Far from it, actually. He’s still the same veteran who helped lead the Celtics to the NBA Finals in 2022 and to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. His game has never been about athleticism and explosiveness. It’s always been based on a high basketball IQ and the ability to control angles on both sides of the floor.