How Tom Brady Helped a Young Al Horford Prolong his NBA Career
Before facing the Lakers, Celtics veteran Al Horford talks about how Tom Brady and others impacted his longevity
BRIGHTON — Before facing LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, as one-half of the NBA’s most-storied rivalry dating back 50+ years, Celtics veteran center Al Horford explained why he doesn’t take moments like these for granted.
An opportunity to compete against two future Hall of Famer players, such as James and Anthony Davis, in a nationally televised game is enough for most veteran’s excitement. But for Horford, 37, who’s taken on the sixth man/spot starting role for a champion-contending Celtics team amidst his 17th season; his longevity isn’t a coincidence.
Not in the NBA. This is a young man’s game that seemingly tends to push aging stars out unless you take the proper measures required to extend one’s career past 35 and deeper into their 30s.
It’s something Horford was privy to at an early age, thanks to his college athletic trainer at Florida University. But then, at the pro level, it was the then-New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady whom Horford turned to for advice well before his 30th birthday.
“With Tom, I was just really impressed with his regimen. With his food regimen, and how he went about it obviously,” Horford said after the Celtics’ morning shootaround. “He takes it to a much bigger extreme than I would. I do like to eat a little bit of everything, but that discipline goes a long way. And, that’s something that, my first time here in Boston, I was able to pick some of those things up, and kind of follow it. Staying away from certain foods, especially on game day — just little things like that. Things that can give you a little edge.”
This was before Horford signed with the Celtics as a free agent in 2016. When Brady was doing everything he could to prolong his unpreceded NFL career and Al was taking notes.
“It was actually before I was a Celtic. I was with the Hawks still, and I was able to come up here into TB12 at the time and meet with him and spend some time,” Horford said. “For me, that was very enlightening.”
At 37-11, Boston has the league’s best record and the Lakers are slightly under .500 (24-25). But for Horford, it doesn’t matter. This is the Celtics/Lakers we’re talking about. He’s still expecting the best from James, Davis, and the struggling Lakers.
While LeBron may not have the same dominant, MVP-caliber presence of his prime, the four-time champion’s still a force to be reckoned with and an effective leader, according to Horford.
“Have to put your trust in your medical team and really try to follow suit. The recommendations are there,” Horford said. “For me, always having my eyes out, seeing, for example, for many years, Tom Brady. I was following him a lot. See what he’s doing, see what Cristiano Ronaldo is doing, and see what LeBron is doing. And reading about it, and seeing if something could benefit me. And, if it can go into some of the things that I want to do, and kind of go from there.”