The Philadelphia 76ers surprised more than a few folks this summer, signing former Celtics All-Star Al Horford to a four-year, $109 million contract. It’s a big payout for a 33-year-old who, next to Joel Embiid, won’t play what many define as his natural position.
Even so, there’s rhyme to the Sixers’ reasoning — and vice versa. In Sports Illustrated’s annual reveal of the top 100 NBA players, Horford ranks 18th. That’s a tad higher than I have him, but it’s a fair representation of his immense impact on winning basketball.