Hoops Habit
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25 Best International Players Of All Time

By Matthew Hallett

Nov 29, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka (9) dunks the ball against Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka (9) dunks the ball against Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Boston Celtics
Apr 9, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) drives against Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) and guard Evan Turner (11) in the second quarter of their game at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 118-107. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

16. Al Horford, Dominican Republic

Al Horford is one of the greatest team players that I have seen at center, a player whose skills make others around him better. Now that he has moved to the Boston Celtics who are a very team oriented group, his talents should be further on display.

Horford was drafted No. 3 overall in the 2007 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks and until he signed with the Celtics had played his entire nine-year career with them.

Horford has career averages of 14.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 blocks. These numbers are really good, just not quite enough to get Horford into the top 15.

Some of Horford’s honors include four All-Star games, being named to the 2007-08 All-Rookie Team and the 2010-11 All-NBA third team.

As he is a free agent this season, if Horford joins a middle of the pack team and takes it to the Playoffs, this will show that he can take the step into the top 25.

More hoops habit: 25 Best Players to Play for the Atlanta Hawks

I will be watching the back end of Horford’s career to see how far he can go in this list. He is by far the best player that the Dominican Republic has produced. The next best player from that country is Francisco Garcia who spent seven and a half seasons with the Sacramento Kings before finishing his career with two and a half seasons with the Houston Rockets.

I will be interested to see if he can take the Celtics to the next level.

Next: No. 15 Rik Smits