While many of his Hawks teammates were jetting off to Cabo San Lucas and other exotic destinations, Al Horford was making his way to New Orleans on Thursday. That's the site of the 57th NBA All-Star Weekend.
An island native, the Dominican-born and bred Horford enjoys the beach as much as anyone. But he relishes the idea of spending the weekend at the epicenter of the basketball world.
Horford will play in the Rookie Challenge Friday, a game pitting the league's top rookies against second-year stars.
"I can't lie," Horford said grinning after practice this week, "I can't wait to get to New Orleans. You watch All-Star Weekend growing up, the slam dunk contest and all of that stuff, so to be a part of it now, even just a little part, that's as good a feeling as you could have. I'm going to soak it all in and do my best to enjoy it to the fullest."
If the first half of his rookie season is any indication, Horford could spend more All-Star Weekends in a uniform rather than shorts and sandals.
"He's a grown man already," veteran Detroit forward and one-time All-Star Antonio McDyess said after Horford worked the Pistons for 12 points and 16 rebounds in a loss Tuesday at Philips Arena. "And he's no rookie, not anymore."
"I knew coming in it would be a process trying to get to and play consistently at a higher level," Horford said. "But I feel like if you take care of your business and make sure your focus is on winning, everything else falls into place. It's been an adjustment, no doubt. But really, I've been fine with everything."
So fine that Horford has avoided many of the pitfalls that can derail a rookie season. He hasn't so much as asked for directions around town. His transition has been so seamless, his teammates have to remind themselves that Horford is indeed a rookie.
"I wouldn't normally call a rookie 'Big Al,' but he's earned his nickname and everything else this year," veteran Hawks center Lorenzen Wright said. "You can't take anything from him. He's earned all the love he's getting. And he should be getting more.
"I hear these people talking about [Seattle's Kevin] Durant winning Rookie of the Year, and I'm trying to figure out what NBA people have been watching when they say that. Because in my mind, Big Al should have that [honor] locked up already."
Link
