Within the 186th playoff sport of his NBA profession, Al Horford gained his first NBA championship. The Celtics capturing the 2024 title took Horford off an ignominious checklist, as Boston arising brief this 12 months would have virtually actually (finally) vaulted him previous Karl Malone (193) for many profession playoff video games with no championship.
After the sport, Horford was understandably excited to lastly get his first ring, 17 years into his NBA profession:
Al Horford: “I do not suppose it is sunk in but. I am going by the feelings proper now, however I do not really feel prefer it’s over. That is an unbelievable feeling. Just like the confetti, all the things’s happening, however I simply hasn’t hit me.” pic.twitter.com/kGOAtUdV8k
— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) June 18, 2024
However with Horford profitable a championship, James Harden ended up taking a crown no participant desires: His 166 profession playoff video games with no ring is no longer simply fourth all-time in NBA historical past, however probably the most of any lively NBA participant.
Per StatMuse, the subsequent closest is… his former Rockets teammate Chris Paul, with 149.
With the NBA Finals over, Harden is now eligible — beneath a brand new NBA rule going into place this 12 months — to start speaking with the Clippers a couple of new contract to maintain him in Los Angeles in free company. On condition that franchise’s historic playoff woes, it appears unlikely Harden will finish his reign atop a leaderboard that no present NBA participant desires to sit down on, however there’s a small silver lining: A minimum of, at age 34, he’s unlikely to go on sufficient lengthy playoff runs in Los Angeles to cross Malone or John Stockton (182) for a top-two slot on the all-time rating.
That’s one thing, proper?
Whereas perhaps Harden can do some title chasing to finish his profession to place this file to mattress, a minimum of as of proper now, the self-described “winner” seems poised to hold onto that little bit of infamy for some time.
However hey, a minimum of perhaps he seems poised to get a special sort of ring quickly!
Congrats James!
