With Horfy dominating the reigning Finals MVP Giannis and defending champion Bucks in a throwback performance - 30 points in the NBA Playoffs in his age-35 season - the question becomes: Is Al Horford the Greatest NBA Gator Ever? I guess Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem may have more rings, but Miami is and always will be Pat Riley's Team and Cach Spo also gets a ton of credit. Miami is more of a successful system and their parts are relatively interchangeable over the years, so both of those players have had their success come within a structured system and therefore their individual contribution to the success gets discounted a bit. From the Late Billy Era, Corey Brewer and Bradley Beal both have had sustained careers and Beal is considered to be a top NBA star who deserves Max Contract $$, so by the Money Metric you could make an argument for Bradley Beal. However, Beal is 22-23 in the Playoffs in his career and the Wizards have not been able to sustain success under his watch thus far. One could go back to Vernon Maxwell, who is probably the greatest Twitter author in NBA history (and everyone should Follow him on Twitter). Mad Max has two rings from Houston, but those both came during Michael Jordan Retirement Years and his contributions were somewhat overshadowed even during those championship seasons. Diehard Gator fans like us tend to lump Al in with the other '04s, and I don't think that Big Al will get the credit he deserves until he retires in a few years. Al has played for so many Playoff teams, but has no Championship rings to show for it and that seems to be the only way NBA fans are able to process success. But it is becoming clear that Al Horford might be the Greatest NBA Gator ever as he guides Boston's damaged front line against the defending champs and even dominates the entire court like no 35+ year old in NBA Playoff History who isn't named LeBron Raymone James or Michael Jeffrey Jordan. who did I miss, Gator HoopHeads?
Beal and Maxwell can drop 50 any night. JW most exciting player of my lifetime and got a lot of pub for a few years. He went to the perfect franchise. Miller, Haslem and Horford have had great success. Beal would be the top guy though if with the right franchise.
I can't believe I forgot about JW, he is my avatar - shame on me. Jason Williams running those Kings teams when they battled the Kobe & Shaq Lakers might be the best a Gator has ever played on the biggest NBA stage - other than some of the vintage Mad Max games. Great pull
David Lee had a nice career and got a ring. I always thought he played his heart out and loved his game. Great NBA Gator too IMHO.
Thanks to the OP, but is is the only thread on NBA Gators right now? After Game 4, Finney-Smith with 24 points and Al Horford with 30 points? Damn, this board is nursing a hangover. The Gators are showing out! GO GATORS!!!
Big Dwayne had a long career and had to endure a moron like Don Devoe before entering the NBA. RIP Also, the great Neal Walk drafted right after Kareem Abdul Jabar. Played for a long time in the pros also unfortunately passed away too young. also if you are going to include Brewer or Parsons, don’t forget my man Noah! Watching Al Horford get psyched up last night was a thing of beauty. It reminded me of his last game vs. LSU after Big Baby won SECPOTY, a complete joke! Horford dominated him that game. Loved it. I said back when he played for the Gators and it’s still true: “Nobody goes over the back on Al Horford for a rebound. They might try once but that’s it.”
So glad you started a thread on Big Al. What he's doing right now is incredible. He almost single-handedly led the Celtics to a victory in Game 3 and was amazing again in Game 4. He plays great defense too, always boxes is man out, etc. He ALMOST has me rooting for the Celtics, which is like saying he almost has me cheering for UK. I don't know if I'd say he's the best, but he's certainly top 3. Add in what he did for us at UF and he might be the best all-around Gator bball player of all time
For careers so far I'd say Al over Bradley, but I think Bradley will overtake Al before all is said and done. <joke>Is anyone going to nominate Cheeze?</joke>
Walk was awesome at UF....20/game in pts and rbs. Avg in NBA, about 13/pt and 7-8 rb. Played maybe 9-10 yr. So, no he is not the best Gator NBA player when you compare him to Mad Max, Jason W, Parsons, Horford, Beal or Noah.
Neal Walk as a collegiate was the best ever UF player. Neal had a decent NBA career, but I think that some other Gators had better ones.
Horford may have had the best overall career, but Jason Williams is much more recognized. As are Haslem and Miller. I think Beal will also get there, he just needs a better team.
Beal already has more career points than Big Al. for one season, Noah was the best in the NBA from UF. 2014 NBA Defensive Player of Year and All-NBA first team. How many Gators have been all-NBA first team or won Defensive or Offensive Player of the year?
I vote Al as best NBA Gator. I think he has added more to winning over more years than any other Gator and I don't think it's close. Whatever is the right advanced metric, he's gotta have a ton of years leading the NBA Gator pack.
