As the Boston Celtics face the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, the unique bond between Celtics’ center Al Horford and Red Sox legend David Ortiz comes to light once again.
Both hailing from the Dominican Republic, Horford and Ortiz forged a close friendship over their careers, particularly during Horford’s first stint with the Celtics from 2016-2019.
In a 2022 interview with MassLive, Ortiz discussed their bond. They initially connected during Horford’s time with the Atlanta Hawks.
“Whenever the Hawks played in Boston, Ortiz would send a car for Al, and they’d have dinner, watch basketball, and catch up with their families,” noted Andrew Sharp in a 2016 Sports Illustrated feature on Horford. Ortiz’s personal chef even cooked for Horford when he was in town.
Ortiz played a role in recruiting Horford to the Celtics, and when Horford signed with Boston in free agency before the 2016-17 season, he bought a home close to Ortiz’s. The two families frequently spent time together, and Ortiz grew close to Horford’s entire family.
David Ortiz is on the Green Monster in an Al Horford jersey with the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Doesn’t get more Boston than this pic.twitter.com/pexTdRL96U
— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) June 5, 2024
Although Horford’s performance has declined slightly, he remains a valuable contributor for the Celtics, averaging nearly 27 minutes per game this season. His scoring average is a career-low 8.6 points per game, but he provides solid defense and veteran leadership for the young team.
Horford became the first Dominican player to compete in an NBA Finals when the Celtics faced the Warriors in the 2021-2022 season. The Warriors won in six games, denying Horford an NBA championship.
Now, Horford has another chance at the title against a formidable Mavericks team. Despite being arguably the best team in the NBA this year, the Celtics face a tough challenge with Luka Dončić and former Celtic Kyrie Irving on the Mavericks’ roster.
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