Al Horford Retirement Press Conference

[78#]

You can already place questions now for me and Al, and then I'll answer after the press conference.

[kucoach7]

Al, you seemed to have plenty left in the tank. Why walk away now?

[digiskunk]

Dear Al,

What was the secret to your success all these years?

[TheSyndicate]

Big Al -

We’ll all miss you, even those of us previously tasked with trying to show you down. What was your proudest moment in your career? Biggest regret?

[78#]

Hello everyone. We're here to celebrate the career of Hall of Famer Al Horford. He's announced his retirement after 19 seasons in the league and 18 of those here with the Houston Rockets and 3 weeks after his 40th birthday. He was acquired on draft day June 25th 2008 from the Seattle Supersonics for the 6th pick in the draft. He's first in franchise history in scoring, rebounding, blocks, free throws, minutes, and second in assists, steals, and 3-pointers. In PBSL history, he's 29th in scoring, second in offensive rebounding, second in offensive rebounding, eighth in blocks, 20th in field goals made, and fifth in minutes. In his 18 seasons with the Rockets, he helped the team make the playoffs 14 times, with 4 divisional titles and two conference finals appearance including a game 7 two seasons ago against the champion Nuggets. He was also a 9 time All-star with 4 All-League first team appearances and 3 All-League second team appearances. He also kicked TC's ass many times over and not only does he retire at the young age of 40, he goes out his way as blue/blue player. Just unbelievable how long this guy dominated at the center position. Arguably the best center of his generations and one of the best ever, please stand up and congratulate Mr. Al Horford.

Al Horford: Thank you everyone. I didn't know what to expect when I was traded to Houston from Seattle 18 years ago. This organization was in the midst of a rebuild, and I joined great guys like the Big Z Zydrunaus Ilgauskaus, Chauncey Billups, Michael Redd, Ronnie Brewer, and Thaddeus Young. The first year I started all 82 games and averaged a double-double though we missed the playoffs. The following season we added the great Kobe Bryant, Ike Diogu, and drafted my partner in crime Ty Lawson. That season we made the playoffs to take the next step. The following season we drafted Lance Stephenson and with Kobe, Thaddeus, Ronnie, Ike, and Ty, we took the top seeded Spurs to 7 games before losing in game 7. Then we added new guys drafting Bismack Biyombo and signing Eddie Griffin and Marcus Banks and made the playoffs, but lost again in the first round. In 2012 with the same key guys, we finally got our first winning season in Houston, but ironically missed the playoffs. In 2014, we won 45 games after trading for the great T-Mac and DJ White and made the playoffs game. After missing the playoffs the following two seasons, in 2017, we added the great Chris Bosh and with Thaddeus Young back we made a great run to the Western Conference Finals before losing in a tough 6 games to the Kings. After making the playoffs again in 2018, we had to start over fresh with young new guys like Boris Hailey, Herbert Burgos, Robert Covington to go along with me and Ty, we made a surprising run sweeping our divisional rivals in Dallas and taking a really good Nuggets team to 7 games. Building off that season, the team was aggressive in FA and signed Isaiah Thomas and Draymond Green with me and Ty signing on and the team won 53 games and made the playoffs again. Two years later we made the playoffs again the following two seasons winning 47 games and 43 games respectively, and making the second round each season after signing Aaron Gordon, Aaron Pastor, and James McCormick. Then we added Desus Mero and Frank Garden and we won 57 games, won the division and made the conference Finals before losing in 7 games to a great Nuggets team. We made a trade to bring Keith Pfeffer this past season and won 53 games, but we also lost Mero to injury and lost in 6 to Phoenix which brings me to now. I've played with a lot of great players obviously throughout the years. I can't leave out my man Russell Gomez who was my backup and my friend for 9 years and my man Ty Lawson who was my teammate for 12 seasons. I've seen a lot, been thru a lot in this league and though I never won a title, I can't regret anything in my career. 78 had the secret sauce for TC with me and it worked for almost 20 years. I wouldn't be here without his help and all the guys above who I've played with including almost 10 All-Stars and many great teammates. But it's time to call it a day after 19 seasons and the age of 40. I feel great with my skills, but I've got no legs left. I can't run, I can't jump, and frankly I'm barely able to bang down low with the bigs. I've had a great career being a Rocket and establishing myself in the city of Houston and I plan to stick around to continue to be an ambassador for the city and for the franchise.

Now we'll answer questions.

[78#]

Al, you seemed to have plenty left in the tank. Why walk away now?

Hey my man. Like I said in my press conference, I feel great shooting and practicing in the gym, but my quickness is zero and my jumping fell to 4 this past offseason. The skills are there, but I've got no legs left now. I was hoping to make one last run, but it wasn't meant to be.

[78#]

Dear Al,

What was the secret to your success all these years?

I have to give credit to hard work, but also to 78 and his secret formula for training camp. He just didn't help me, but plenty of guys over the years. The team has great facilities, and great trainers and great coaches over the years. But the secret TC formula was the biggest key to my success.

[78#]

Big Al -

We’ll all miss you, even those of us previously tasked with trying to show you down. What was your proudest moment in your career? Biggest regret?

Ooh, proudest moment. I'm gonna go with Game 7 at age of 37 against the Lakers at home when I went for 29/14/3 on 13-19 shooting and we won to move on to the next round. I can't forget how it felt looking at the home crowd afterwards. I went home with tears in my eyes because it felt like all the emotions over the years all came at once.

http://pbsl.ijbl.net/2022/boxes/box197-1.htm

My biggest regrets came on the court in two separate conference Finals. In 2018 against the Kings at home in game 6, we were up by 13 entering the 4th quarter and got outscored 33-17 and the Kings won the game and series and though I had 18 boards and 6 blocks, I only had 15 points on 5-12 shooting and we lost by 3.

http://pbsl.ijbl.net/2017/boxes/box219-1.htm

My other regret on the court was game 7 against you guys in the conference Finals in May 2025. We were feeling really good coming in and winning 3 straight easy victories after being down 3-0. But Otto Porter came back in game 7 and I struggled offensively and we lost fairly easily in Denver against a great Nuggets game.

But overall I don't have any regrets in my career. I played almost 20 seasons being a full-time starter in 18 of those seasons and made almost $400 million dollars and have used that to open many businesses and investments and programs to help people so even though I never won a title, I had a great career and can't look back without any regrets.

[IamQuailman]

Word count for main address+ answers to questions... 1226! Collect 6pts for this beautiful send off to a life-long rocket (goes towards 26-27 Season total).