Free-agent center Al Horford has verbally agreed to a multiyear contract with the Golden State Warriors, agent Jason Glushon told ESPN on Sunday.
The 39-year-old, who spent seven of the last nine seasons with the Boston Celtics and helped the franchise capture the 2023-24 NBA championship, is expected to enter his 19th NBA campaign as Golden State’s starting center.
According to league sources, Horford and the Warriors are finalizing financial details and plan to complete the signing in the coming days, pending a decision from restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.
Golden State targeted Horford at the opening of free agency in July. The five-time All-Star weighed offers from the Warriors against potential retirement before committing on Sunday. Several other free agents had been waiting for Kuminga’s choice, but Horford opted to move forward with Golden State.
Last season, Horford averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists while hitting 36.3% of his 3-point attempts on 5.2 shots per game. He started 42 of the 60 contests in which he appeared for Boston.
Horford has made at least 100 three-pointers in each of the past three seasons and has connected on 41% of his attempts in that span. Golden State believes his floor spacing, passing vision, size and defensive instincts complement the core of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green.
Defensively, the veteran limited opponents to a 46% effective field-goal percentage in isolation situations last year, seventh best in the NBA, per GeniusIQ data. He also defended the sixth-most isolations league-wide during the 2024-25 season, maintaining a reputation as one of the few big men capable of reliably switching onto wings.
Horford joins Rasheed Wallace, Brook Lopez and Clifford Robinson as the only players in league history with at least 900 made three-pointers and 1,300 blocks.
Terms of the agreement are expected to be finalized once Kuminga’s free-agency status is resolved.
Source: ESPN
