Celtics raise a toast to Al Horford: 'A real-life legend and hero'

Horford's joy — a culmination of 17 years of perseverance — was shared by his teammates Monday night. It's why Jayson Tatum dedicated the win to his vet barely seconds after reaching the mountaintop.

"That's my favorite teammate of all time," Tatum said of Horford. "He paved the way for all of us. It means the world to us that he won."

Jrue Holiday echoed similar sentiments in his postgame presser.

"Once I became his teammate, one of the ultimate goals of this season — knowing the type of person Al is, knowing the leader that he is — I'd run through a brick wall for him," Holiday said of Horford.

Finals MVP Jaylen Brown referred to Horford as "a real-life legend and hero" he is honored to call a teammate.

"Nobody deserved it more than Al," said Brown. "It's been an honor to be by his side. And Al Horford is a real-life legend and hero."

Brown acknowledged that the Celtics "leaned so much" on a 38-year-old Horford to play key minutes in the playoffs, especially in the absence of the injured Kristaps Porzingis. 

Horford answered the bell, averaging 9.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 3PM through 19 playoff games.  

In addition, Horford became the 48th player in history to win an NCAA and NBA championship, following his back-to-back national titles with the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007. He also became the first Dominican-born player to win an NBA championship.