Insider: Al Horford Has ‘Pretty Strong Case’ For This Huge Honor

The Boston Celtics have had 23 players’ numbers retired and hung from the rafters.

Jayson Tatum is almost certainly going to earn the distinction eventually, but there’s one other player that MassLive’s Brian Robb said has a “pretty strong case” for the honor.

The Celtics beat reporter published his Celtics Mailbag on Friday and was asked about free agent center Al Horford’s chances down the road.

“He definitely felt like a shoo-in to me after another couple of years in green, something that felt inevitable with the way he talked about his future before the end of the season,” Robb wrote. “However, Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear changes the reality for next season for both Boston and Horford. The team obviously couldn’t justify paying Horford his worth for a non-contender, and Horford understandably wants to play for another ring, leading to his expected departure to Golden State.”

Horford’s credentials during his two stints in Beantown include two NBA Finals appearances, one championship and one All-Star honor across seven seasons.

“Given that he spent more time in Boston than someone like Ray Allen, I think he has a pretty strong case, especially if this Celtics era only ends up with one championship,” Robb said. “If Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown make another couple of Finals runs without the big man, it may be easier to leave him out. However, he was a more important part of a title team than a lot of other players already in the Boston rafters.”

The 39-year-old still doesn’t have a team for the 2025-26 season, but he’s been heavily connected to the Golden State Warriors.

Horford’s No. 42 may end up in the rafters next to other Celtics legends someday, but the 2007 draft pick could eventually earn an even bigger honor.

ESPN national NBA writer Zach Kram recently analyzed which 50 modern stars could make the Basketball Hall of Fame down the road and said that Horford is currently “on the bubble.”