Many analysts and basketball pundits have predicted the retirement of Al Horford at the end of each year. The 38-year-old, however, has beaten all such speculations and continues to do so. That’s not all. The 5x All-Star continues to showcase elite defensive skills in every team he’s been in. It was on full display during Game 1 of the Celtics vs Mavericks.

As per NBA’s tracking data, Luka Doncic shot just 1-of-8 from the field and went 0-of-3 from downtown when Horford was on him. If you thought Al was only a threat to the Slovenian superstar, think again. The entire Mavs team was 5-o-f-19 from the floor when the All-Defensive Second Teamer was on the court. Suffice it to say that he was a force to reckon with for even the league’s most elite.

Now do you get an idea why Alfred Joel “Al” Horford Reynoso is the highest-paid Latin American basketball player? The above-mentioned instance was just a sample of what the man was capable of in his prime. And also the most recent, so that helps. So, why don’t we take a look at the Boston Celtics’ veteran forward-center’s career, salary, and a few other details?

How much does Al Horford earn?

Horford signed a 2-year $19.5 million contract extension with Boston in December 2022. As of 2023-24, he is set to earn $10,000,000, with a dead cap value of $9.5 million for the next season. Remember what we said about Al being the highest-paid Latin American basketball player? Well, take a look at his career earnings. A whopping $275,636,768! 

Many have argued that it is a huge amount for someone who has yet to lead a team to an NBA title. However, as noted, Al Horford has been a solid piece and an extremely valuable presence in every team he’s been. Clearly, the teams that signed him believe in him enough to pay him that well. In fact, if you were to look into the history of the highest-paid centers, Al Horford would rank at the top.

To this date, there have only been two centers who crossed the $250 million mark in their careers- Shaquille O’Neal and Horford. The man in question has earned $12 million since 2012 and $26+ million since 2016. It is only this season that we see the 38-year-old with a $10 million check. With the kind of popularity Horford has, it is natural that endorsements will follow.

Brands like Panini, Dunkin’ Donuts, Unilever, Intel, Banco Popular, and Unilever Indonesia have been an additional source of income. According to Forbes, Horford earns around $3.3 million in endorsements alone (as of 2020). And Celebrity Net Worth has Al’s net worth at $100 million.

Al’s journey to the NBA

Born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Al Horford knew basketball from a young age. The first Dominican Republic player to arrive at the NBA, Tito Horford, was a whirlwind. But that’s a story for another time. Drafted as the 39th pick in the 1988 NBA Draft Night by the Milwaukee Bucks, Horford Sr. played three seasons in the NBA and several more overseas.

Tito and Arelis Reynoso, Al’s mother, had five children together – Jon, Josh, Anna, Maria, and Al. Aside from Tito and his son, Al, Kelly Horford, his uncle, and Jon Horford, his younger brother played professionally, too. Let’s just say that he was destined for basketball even before he was born.

Horford and the Gators

Standing at 6’9, 240 pounds, Al Horford is just four inches shy of his father. It was in 2000 when he was 14 that the whole family moved to Lansing, Michigan, where a young Al enrolled in Grand Ledge High School. He was a star in his high school basketball team, holding seven records, including for the most career points – 1,239.

Accepting the athletic scholarship from the University of Florida, Horford played for Billy Donovan, the current head coach of the Chicago Bulls. The changes were immediate. In Al’s first season with the Gators, he led them to the 2005 Southeastern Conference Tournament championship, repeating the success the next year, as well. But Horford was just getting warmed up.

2006 saw Florida clinch its first national title behind Al. Before they were done with the excitement, the SEC Tournament MVP once again led the team to back-to-back championships in 2007. He finished his time with the Gators averaging 10.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 59 percent from the field overall. We don’t have to tell you that he was a top prospect for the NBA draft.

The NBA start

Selected as the third pick by Atlanta, he was unanimously voted to the All-Rookie First Team – the only player to have received the honor. Horford’s rookie season saw him with a stat line of 10.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 81 games. The 2009-10 was his breakout season. For one, it was Al’s first All-Star appearance. The Hawks center finished the season with  14.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 55.1% from the floor.

Atlanta must have been really happy with their No. 3 pick that he was signed to a five-year $60 million rookie contract extension in 2010. The very next season, the 2x NCAA champion got his second straight All-Star nod. What was more, with Horford holding down the court, the Blackhawks made nine postseason runs, with the 2014-15 season being particularly deep.

The Hawks finished first in the Eastern Conference with a 60-22 record. The last time the Hawks finished the regular season as the first seed was in the 1993-94 season! Atlanta then advanced all the way to the Conference Finals, before losing to the Cavs with a 0-4 record. From there, Al Horford played for three teams before landing back in Boston once again (he played for the Cs from 2016-19 before signing again in 2021). And now, he is on his way to his very first championship in his 17th year in the league.

Home Sweet Home – Al Horford, the family guy

Al Horford will always have a soft spot for Boston. After all, that was where he met his future wife during the Latin Pride Awards. Married to Miss Universe of 2003, Amelia Vega is Horford’s beloved better half and the mother of his five children. Born to a large family, it was a no-brainer that he would also love to have one for himself. Lucky for him, Vega, a Dominican Republic native herself, was open to the idea. The pair tied the knot in 2011.

An accomplished woman with various interests, Amelia had her share of the spotlight, as well. She starred in the 2006 comedy Homie Spumoni, the romantic drama The Lost City, and more recently, the 2024 animated children’s movie Capitán Avispa (Captain Wasp). That’s not all. She is a beautiful singer as well, having released a single in 2010.

As mentioned, the couple share five children – Ean was born in 2015 and Alía followed the next year. Ava joined the family in 2018 and Nova in 2021. Their youngest, Mila, arrived in 2022. Horford’s family is his biggest supporter. A true family man, his words during an interview about fatherhood on the Celtics YouTube channel, say it all. Everything that Al Horford is boils down to this.

“I always wanted to be a dad and have my own family … When I’m at home and when I have the time, I make sure that I give the best quality time that I possibly can to my kids and to my wife.” 

But before you go, be sure to check this video of Leonardo Armato’s take on Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese.

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