Al Horford happy for first Finals appearance after going through an emotional week

Al Horford has reached some wins away from a Finals appearance during his 15-year career in the NBA. He has the opportunity with Boston (twice) and the Hawks (once), but, LeBron James was a formidable obstacle in those three occasions.

On Sunday’s game 7 vs the Heat, the Celtics were clearly the better team in the series and Horford put an end to his 141 playoff games streak without a Finals appearance. The bigman from the Dominican Republic was happy after the game.

“It’s been a great journey,” Horford admitted, via NBA.com. “Lot of battles. Obviously, I’ve never been able to get it [until now], but a lot of great teammates along the way.”

It was a tough journey for Horford, who returned to Boston last summer. His leadership and versatility at 35 was precisely what the Celtics needed to find their way to the NBA Finals for the first time in 12 years.

Horford went through a lot as a player, going through a bad fit with the Philadelpia 76ers and playing for the OKC Thunder, who were rebuilding at that time. He even had to get through the devastating loss of his grandfather the past week and help Boston close the series.

“It’s been difficult for me and my family. My grandfather was somebody that I was extremely close with, somebody that I really cared for. All week, my family just kind of telling me “just go out there and play”, that’s something he would have wanted me to do”.

In addition to sloughing his own Finals-less streak, Horford also became the first player to represent the Dominican Republic in The Finals. The veteran center and the Boston Celtics will turn their focus to the Finals, where they will face the Golden State Warriors.

The series will start Thursday in San Francisco.

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