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Hawks expect Horford back for training camp
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Forward Al Horford, recovering from surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle, is expected to be ready for the start of the Atlanta Hawks’ training camp in the fall.
However, the 27-year-old will be unable to play for the Dominican Republic in the FIBA World Cup this summer, according to a statement released Wednesday by Dr. Xavier Duralde, who performed Horford’s operation on Dec. 31.
“Al is doing very well and has progressed as expected as he rehabilitates his right pectoral muscle,” Duralde said in the statement released by the Hawks. “As of his most recent examination, he has only been cleared for spot shooting and light non-contact, on-court activity. Unfortunately, I do not think he is far enough along that he can play for the Dominican Republic National Team this summer. He remains on schedule to be cleared for full participation to all normal basketball activities at the start of training camp.”
Horford was injured Dec. 26 while playing against the Cleveland Cavaliers. At the time he got hurt, the 6-foot-10 Horford led the team in scoring (18.6), field-goal percentage (.567; seventh in the league), rebounding (8.4) and blocks per game (1.5; 13th) while adding 2.6 assists in 33.0 minutes per game in 29 games.
In seven NBA seasons since he was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 draft, Horford is averaging 14 points and 9.5 rebounds while shooting .541 from the floor.
