Al Horford’s journey in Golden State just took a sharp turn.
The veteran big man - once the face of the Atlanta Hawks and a key cog in Boston’s deep playoff runs - has been thrust into the Warriors’ starting lineup, not by design, but by necessity. Golden State had been content to use Horford as a high-IQ sixth man, a steadying presence off the bench who could anchor second units and complement stars in spot minutes. But that plan went out the window the moment Jimmy Butler went down with a devastating ACL tear.
Now, Horford is back in the starting five - just his second start of the season - and the Warriors are counting on him in a way they hadn’t anticipated.
This wasn’t supposed to be the story for Horford at this stage of his career. After Boston acquired Kristaps Porziņģis ahead of the 2023-24 season, Horford gracefully accepted a bench role, one that allowed him to manage his minutes and extend his effectiveness.
He still started when needed, especially when Porziņģis was sidelined, but the reduced workload helped preserve his legs and keep him ready for the postseason. It was a smart pivot - one that paid off for both him and the Celtics.
Golden State took a page out of that same playbook. With an aging core and championship aspirations, the Warriors weren’t overly concerned with regular season dominance.
They were playing the long game. And with four potential Hall of Famers all north of 35 - Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Horford - load management wasn’t just a strategy, it was a necessity.
The mission was clear: stay healthy, make the playoffs, and let experience take over from there.
But Butler’s injury changed the calculus. Suddenly, the Warriors can’t afford to pace themselves.
They’ve lost one of their two remaining stars, and the margin for error is razor-thin. That means leaning harder on Horford, even if the ideal version of this team had him coming off the bench.
What makes this even more intriguing is how well Horford had been playing in that reserve role - particularly in lineups that featured Butler but not Curry. He brought balance, defensive communication, and a veteran’s touch to the floor.
But now, without Butler and with Curry carrying the offensive load, Horford has to adjust again. And this time, the stakes are higher.
There’s a fork in the road here. One path leads to Horford proving, once again, that he’s one of the most durable and intelligent players of his generation.
He’s been the “fifth starter” on elite teams before - not the flashiest, not the focal point, but the glue guy who makes everything work. If he can replicate that formula down the stretch, he’ll not only help stabilize Golden State’s season but also cement his case for Springfield.
Few players have aged as gracefully or as effectively as Horford, and a strong finish here would only add to his remarkable résumé.
The other path? It’s a tougher one.
At 39, there’s only so much tread left on the tires. If Horford can’t handle the increased workload or if the fit with Curry and the rest of the starters doesn’t click, the Warriors could find themselves exposed - and Horford could become an easy target for frustration.
It’s an unfair spot for a player who’s given everything to the game, but that’s the reality when expectations are sky-high and the margin for error is slim.
Either way, Golden State’s season just got a lot more complicated - and Al Horford is right at the center of it.