Gator Boys In NBA Playoffs

The NBA playoffs began Saturday for the final sequence of the 2025 season.

Gators in the Playoffs

Al Horford, an NBA veteran and Florida Gators legend plays for the Boston Celtics as a power forward/center. “Big Al” won it all for the Gators in back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007 for the program’s first two national titles. That statistic would remain static until this year when Big Al was present to watch the 2025 Gator boys take home the third national title for the University of Florida. Horford appeared in the Celtics first playoff game of the season last night against the Orlando Magic. He saw 25 minutes of game time with five points, three assists and five rebounds to push the Celtics to a 103-86 victory and a 1-0 lead in the series.

Dorian Finney-Smith, a 6-foot-8 power/small forward came to Florida in 2013 after transferring from Virginia Tech. He played Gator ball from 2013 to 2016 until he signed with the Dallas Mavericks later that year. Finney-Smith now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers who are currently battling the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs. The Timberwolves lead the series 1-0 after defeating the Lakers 117-95. Finney-Smith played over 30 minutes and contributed three rebounds, two assists and three points.

Finally, Andrew Nembhard, 25, is a point guard/shooting guard for the Indiana Pacers. The 6-foot-4 Canadian played for the Florida Gators from 2018-2020 before finishing his college career at Gonzaga. The Pacers are set to face-off against the Milwaukee Bucks again tomorrow night at 7 p.m. after securing the first win of the series 117-98. Nembhard played a huge role in the win, going 8-for-13 with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists.

Gator Nation is everywhere as former Gator players take on the NBA playoffs and work toward the finals.