It's been almost 10 months since a torn pectoral muscle ended Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford's 2013-14 season.
He finally returns Tuesday.
Head Coach Mike Budenholzer said Horford will start in the team's preseason game against the Miami Heat.
"I'm excited," Horford said after Tuesday's shootaround, where he walked through the plays with the first unit. "I've been waiting for this for a while. It'll be good just to be back with the guys, playing in a real game."
Coach Bud said Horford will play "very limited minutes."
"I think it's the next step in his progression," Bud said. "It'll give him an opportunity to play in a live setting, to get a taste of it, and start building him up going forward."
Horford is being realistic about his expectations for his first game.
"One of the main things is just making sure I work on my conditioning. There's 'in-shape' and then there's 'basketball shape,' and to get in basketball shape you have to play. My whole purpose for tonight is to get out there and get a good run in, start getting comfortable being in defensive situations. It's important for us to start getting the chemistry going again."
Horford will join Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, DeMarre Carroll and Paul Millsap in Tuesday's starting lineup.
Coach Bud also said he plans to play Pero Antic and Kent Bazemore for the first time this preseason. Antic broke his nose during Training Camp, while Bazemore has been working his way back from a foot injury.
Story by Jaryd Wilson