How Celtics Draft Pick Feels About Comparison To Al Horford

Anton Watson’s max ceiling could be turning into a player like Al Horford.

This year’s second-round pick of the Boston Celtics has heard that comparison before and even spoke about playing a similar role to Horford. The two have somewhat similar skill sets and their measurables are nearly identical, with Horford, who is listed at 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds, just an inch and 10 pounds heavier than the 23-year-old Watson.

But Watson believes that’s where the comparisons should stop.

“I’ve heard a lot of comparisons,” Watson told reporters following Boston’s Summer League win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday in Las Vegas, per CLNS Media. “Al, that’s a legend. He’s a vet. But I have a long way to go to be compared to someone like that.”

Watson offered up another NBA comp he heard, and one that is much more attainable, too. It happens to be a former Celtics forward as well.

“There’s been a lot of NBA players I’ve been compared to. Grant Williams is one,” Watson said. “I think if my game can evolve, then probably more comparisons will come.”

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Watson certainly has the tools with his size, strength and athleticism to thrive on the defensive end. But the Gonzaga product’s offensive game is a work in progress.

The Celtics want Watson to shoot more 3-pointers than he did in college — he shot just 55 3-pointers in his final season with the Bulldogs but knocked down 40% of the attempts — as they believe he can excel from beyond the arc.

Horford and Williams weren’t high-level outside shooters when they entered the NBA, either. Horford took just 29 3-pointers in his first seven seasons — granted it was a much different NBA back then — and Williams famously missed his first 25 attempts from downtown as a rookie.

But they now are both reliable options from deep. Horford knocked down over 40% of his 3-point attempts the last two seasons while Williams is a 37.7% 3-pointer shooter for his career.

Watson may never turn into Horford, or Williams for that matter. But if he can follow a similar trajectory, it’s not out of the question that he can become a serviceable 3-and-D player in the NBA.