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Al Horford Revealed How Celtics Teammates Caused Him to Mysteriously Flinch During NBA Games

Published 06/01/2022, 11:33 PM EDT

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Al Horford, at 35, is still balling out for the Boston Celtics. The big man embraces his role like a true seasoned professional, which has propelled him to his first NBA Finals appearance. However, when the subject of Horford pops up, most people recall his iconic flinch during games.

Al Horford does this flinch whenever the ball bounces towards him after a missed free throw or jump shot. The act is, without question, pretty amusing; yet, it is also rather strange.

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Horford’s phobia of the ball is puzzling, given that he has been a premier rebounder throughout his career. And this has transpired more than a few times in the past, leaving people scratching their heads.

“Big Al” explained back in 2018, that he does the mysterious flinch on purpose to get others to laugh.

“I just try to keep it loose sometimes for the guys. The game is so serious at times – and I take it very serious – but there are times that you put things in perspective. That’s something I’ve been doing for years. I kinda stopped doing it. The other night I was just messing around … I just started doing it,” the Dominican big man said.

“I don’t think I’ve done it very much this year. This might be the second or third time. A lot of the times I just try to get a laugh out of the guys, my teammates on the bench. That’s kinda what I go for. I’m sure people are curious. Now they know,” he added.

This quality of Horford is definitely quite odd. However, as long as the journeyman displays his expertise and skills on a nightly basis, it will more than make up for it. He probably needs a pair of spectacles, that’s all.

Al Horford makes his first NBA Finals

The Boston Celtics overcame the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. As the final buzzer struck, Al Horford tossed the ball into the air, dashed to join his comrades in celebration, and then dropped to his knees. He slapped the floor twice and joined his teammates again in celebration.

The oldest player on the Celtics‘ squad will treasure this voyage to the Finals in ways that his companions just cannot. Nobody in the league’s history, before their Game 7 win, had appeared in more postseason ballgames without reaching the NBA Finals than Horford. The triumph in Miami on Sunday marked the Dominican’s 141st playoff appearance.

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Horford had no understanding of what the experience of making the Finals would be like. Perhaps, It turned out to be even greater than he had imagined.

“Just didn’t know how to act,” the power forward said. “Just caught up, excited. A lot of hard work. I’ve been a part of a lot of great teams, a lot of great teammates, and I’m so proud of this group. I’m really grateful to be in this position.” 

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Horford has always led from the front, but this year he took it to another extreme. He isn’t the best player in Boston. But let’s face the facts: He is a leader. His voice could be heard everywhere, during training, timeouts, and in the locker room.

Considering that he played collegiate basketball in Florida, it was only right that the Finals invitation come his way in Miami.

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The Celtics will encounter the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, and for the 15-year veteran, this is the golden opportunity to cap off a stellar NBA career.

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Written by:

Ritvik Malhotra

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Ritvik is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Having completed his Bachelor's in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Ritvik has finally got his foot in the door as a professional sports writer. He previously interned at another media house where he authored over 150 soccer articles, but he is now writing about his primary obsession, basketball.
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Edited by:

Veer Badani