Al Horford Says Golden State Likely His Final NBA Stop
al-horford-sees-warriors-as-final-nba-team
Veteran center Al Horford said Tuesday he expects the Golden State Warriors to be the last franchise of his career as he prepares for his 19th NBA season.
Recruiting call from Curry and Green
Horford told Nick Friedell of The Athletic that he had no prior relationship with Stephen Curry or Draymond Green before free-agency rumors began. Once word spread, both Warriors stars reached out with swift pitches that helped seal his decision.
“They came to me and they’re like, ‘Hey, we’d love to have you,’” Horford recalled at his introductory news conference last week. “Looking at the fit and the potential, it just felt right.” He added that retirement was never a consideration and that Golden State was the only situation that could have pulled him away from Boston.
Productive year in Boston
The five-time All-Star appeared in 60 games last season for the Celtics, averaging 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.7 minutes. He shot 42.3% from the field, 36.3% from three and a career-best 89.5% at the free-throw line.
Defensively, Horford held opponents to a 46% effective field-goal rate on isolation plays, the seventh-best mark in the league, according to GeniusIQ. ESPN Stats & Information notes he is one of only four players in NBA history with at least 900 made three-pointers and 1,300 blocks, joining Rasheed Wallace, Brook Lopez and Clifford Robinson.
Why he left the Celtics
Horford signed a two-year, $12 million contract with Golden State after four consecutive seasons—and seven overall—with Boston. He cited Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury and a desire to stay in title contention as primary reasons for moving on.
“Even though I called [Boston] my home, they just weren’t in a position to offer me the opportunity that I wanted,” the 39-year-old said. “The financial part was a component, but more than that, it was the winning part of it.”
Celtics’ roster reset influenced decision
Boston engaged in a major payroll reduction this summer, cutting projected salary commitments from roughly $540 million to $239 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The cost-saving strategy included trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis—moves Horford called a “domino effect” that made his departure easier to accept.
“Once the offseason started to progress, it became clear the team had different priorities,” he said. “It was tough, but my family and I prayed about it, and this was the right move for us.”
Horford joins a Warriors core led by Curry, Green and Klay Thompson, aiming to add veteran depth to a roster chasing another championship.
Source: Basketball Insiders
