It’s Media Day for the Boston Celtics, and general manager Brad Stevens has been full of praise for the defending champions.
Stevens emphasized the importance of Boston’s veteran leadership, singling out Al Horford and newly acquired Jrue Holiday in particular. In an interview with NBC Sports Boston, Stevens expressed his belief that Horford and Holiday are among the league’s top veteran leaders.
“If you truly want to talk about the best vet leadership in the league, there’s no way anybody has got us beat there,” Stevens said. “Those two (Horford and Holiday) are as good as it gets because they’re all about the right things … It’s not all about you when you’re part of this team; your best players have to exemplify that.”
Horford and Holiday bring a combined 32 years of NBA experience, along with seven All-Star selections, seven All-Defensive Team honors, and most importantly, both are NBA champions.
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Horford has been a constant presence alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown throughout most of their careers, while Holiday played a key role in helping them capture their first championship. Without the leadership and experience of Horford (38) and Holiday (34), Celtics fans might still be waiting for the long-coveted Banner 18.
During Boston’s title run, with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined for much of the playoffs, Horford stepped up, starting in 15 of the team’s 19 games. He was highly efficient, shooting an incredible 72.1% on two-pointers and 36.8% from beyond the arc.
In the postseason, Horford showcased his ability to hit clutch threes, recording two games with six or more triples. In a Game 5 closeout against Cleveland, he delivered a vintage performance with 22 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks, hitting 6 of 13 threes. He followed that with a dominant Game 3 of the conference finals, torching the Pacers for 23 points on 7-for-12 shooting from deep.
Horford’s versatility on the court is matched by his reputation as a great teammate. Tatum has called him his favorite teammate multiple times, highlighting the invaluable bond they share.
Holiday, another exemplary teammate, is a three-time Teammate of the Year Award winner. As a two-time champion, he played an integral role in Boston’s title run, excelling as the primary ball handler and standing out for his elite defensive impact. Together, their leadership, experience, and on-court performance were pivotal to Boston’s success.