SAN FRANCISCO - Al Horford's New Chapter with the Warriors
Al Horford, now donning Warriors gear, recently shared some pre-game moments with his son Ean before sitting down with reporters. This scene, reminiscent of his Boston days, unfolds amid curiosity about his move to Golden State. With the Warriors trailing the Celtics by 7.0 games, Horford's departure from the team where he clinched his first championship raises eyebrows.
"For me, the decision, it’s something that’s deeper than just the basketball stuff," Horford explained before the game, hinting at personal reasons behind his move. While the details remain under wraps, Horford felt it was time for a new chapter.
Horford inked a two-year, $11.7 million deal with the Warriors after early reports in July suggested his Boston exit. Celtics’ President Brad Stevens had expressed a desire to retain Horford and Luke Kornet but faced financial constraints, leading to minimum contract offers for other frontcourt players.
The backdrop to Horford's departure includes Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, which visibly affected Horford, and signals from Stevens about potential financial moves involving Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday. While Horford considered retirement, Payton Pritchard emphasized the importance of his return in exit interviews.
As free agency kicked off, Horford was quickly linked to Golden State. Once the deal was finalized, Horford cited a desire to keep competing as a driving factor.
Reflecting on Boston’s success, he noted, "Last year, we had a lot of guys down, and we were still winning. That was a blueprint.
This year, everyone’s bought into what Joe is doing, and they’re running a great program."
Horford’s father, Tito, was surprised by the move, initially seeing it as beyond Al’s control. Sources indicated Boston could only offer a minimum contract, while the Warriors extended a more appealing taxpayer mid-level exception. In Golden State, Horford has averaged 7.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, though starting only five of his first 34 games.
During Thursday’s matchup against the Celtics, both Horford and Porziņģis came off the bench. Despite a tough start, the Warriors rallied to close the gap, with Horford contributing five points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Post-game, Joe Mazzulla took a moment with Ean for a photo, and Celtics players reconnected with their former teammate, highlighting the unique emotions of the night.
The Warriors are in a rebuilding phase, while Boston operates like a well-oiled machine. Horford remains committed to his current team but leaves the door open for a potential return to Boston before hanging up his sneakers.
"As far as the end of my career, I don’t know," he shared. "It would definitely be a privilege, but right now, I’m focused on finishing this year strong."