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Florida basketball: 10 best NBA careers in Gators history

By Josh Yourish

Mar 9, 2007; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida Gators guard Taurean Green (11), forward Al Horford (42) and forward Joakim Noah wait between plays against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half of a quarterfinal round SEC Tournament game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Floirda won 74-57. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2007 Jason Parkhurst
Mar 9, 2007; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida Gators guard Taurean Green (11), forward Al Horford (42) and forward Joakim Noah wait between plays against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half of a quarterfinal round SEC Tournament game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Floirda won 74-57. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2007 Jason Parkhurst /
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May 27, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) controls the ball against Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) and forward Jayson Tatum (0)in the fourth quarter during game six of the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) controls the ball against Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) and forward Jayson Tatum (0)in the fourth quarter during game six of the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 best Florida basketball NBA career: Al Horford

  • Drafted: 2007 No. 3 overall
  • NBA career games: 1,017
  • NBA PPG: 13.4
  • 2007-08 All-Rookie
  • 2010-11 All-NBA
  • 5x All-Star
  • 2017-18 All-Defensive Team

In terms of sustained success, Al Horford has had the best career of any Florida Gator in the NBA. Horford and Joakim Noah teamed up to lead Florida to back-to-back NCAA championships before leaving for the NBA.

Horford was selected by the Hawks, six spots ahead of Noah, and had immediate success. Horford averaged over 10 points as a rookie and in his third season, he averaged 14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds and was named an All-Star for the first time. In nine seasons with the Hawks, Horford was an All-Star four times and led them to the playoffs eight times.

Then Horford signed with the Boston Celtics and began his second act. He was an All-Star again as a 31-year-old in his second season in Boston and had become an elite passer as a big man, averaging right around five assists. He also excelled on the other end of the floor and made the All-Defensive team.

Horford bounced around some, but in 2021 returned to Boston and is still searching for an NBA title.

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