Al Horford Reflects on Boston’s Rise, Neemias Queta’s Breakout, and His New Chapter with the Warriors
SAN FRANCISCO - Tucked into a quiet corner of the Chase Center, Al Horford took a moment to reflect on the team he left behind - and the one he’s still adjusting to.
No longer anchoring the middle for Boston, Horford now suits up for the Golden State Warriors. But even from 3,000 miles away, he’s been keeping tabs on the Celtics’ surprising surge this season. And while he’s not shocked by their resilience - not with Joe Mazzulla at the helm and Jaylen Brown stepping into a leadership role - there’s one development he didn’t see coming.
Neemias Queta.
A year ago, Queta was buried on the depth chart, a fourth-string center on a veteran-heavy roster. Now? He’s Boston’s starting big man - and making the most of it.
“To me, that’s been the biggest surprise,” Horford said. “And I don’t mean that in a bad way.
It’s a good surprise. Being a starting center in this league is no small thing - the minutes, the physicality, the mental load.
But Neemi worked hard in the offseason, and they figured it out over there. He’s been consistent, he’s been helping them win, and I’m just proud of him.
He’s earned it.”
Horford’s not pouring over box scores - he’s watching the impact. And Queta’s impact has been real.
Alongside a productive backup in Luka Garza, the Celtics have patched what looked like a glaring hole in the middle. Add in Jaylen Brown playing the best basketball of his career and a wave of energetic young wings stepping up, and Boston has powered its way to a 31-18 record.
Entering the week, they ranked third in the NBA in both net rating and point differential, trailing only Detroit in the Eastern Conference standings.
For Horford, none of that is a shock - not with Mazzulla in charge.
“It’s been a lot of changes, but it doesn’t surprise me, just because I know who Joe is,” Horford said. “When he first got the job, people said, ‘Well, he’s got all this talent.
They’ll be fine.’ But it doesn’t work that way.
What we’re seeing now, with the team being tested and challenged - this is where Joe shines. The guys respect him.
They’ve bought in.”
And then there’s Jaylen Brown - now an All-Star starter and even getting whispers in MVP conversations. Horford says that leap was inevitable.
“Absolutely,” he said. “Jaylen’s always been someone who gets back up.
Every time he’s been knocked down, he comes back stronger. Each year, he’s gotten better - more consistent, more polished.
And when he talks about sacrifice, he means it. There were times he could’ve done more, but he understood what the team needed.
He deferred when it mattered. That’s not easy.
That takes maturity.”
For Horford, watching Brown’s evolution has been personal. The two shared years of battles, growth, and a championship run in 2024. Now, Horford’s carving out a new role on the West Coast, where the transition hasn’t been all smooth sailing.
After spending seven of the last nine seasons in Boston, moving west meant more than just a new jersey. It meant uprooting his family, learning a new system, and adjusting to a team with sky-high expectations - and a rocky start.
“Boston was home,” Horford said. “We were part of the community.
Coming here, I knew it would be a big change. It’s been a learning experience - new team, new system, trying to figure it all out while still doing my best on the court.”
Early returns were rough. In his first 13 games with the Warriors - scattered across six weeks - Horford averaged just 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds, shooting 32.1% from the field.
He was dealing with a sciatica issue and couldn’t suit up for back-to-backs. The numbers reflected it: a minus-7.6 net rating and minus-50 in plus-minus.
But since shaking off the injury, Horford has looked like a different player. Over his last 16 games, he’s averaging 8.5 points and 5.6 rebounds, shooting 49% from the field and nearly 40% from deep.
More importantly, the Warriors are thriving when he’s on the floor - outscoring opponents by 76 points in that stretch. His net rating over those games?
A team-best 10.8 among regulars.
“He’s awesome,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “Such a great pro.
He’s seen it all. He’s become a really good three-point shooter late in his career.
But it’s not just that - it’s the wisdom, the fundamentals, the awareness of what wins. That’s huge for us.”
Kerr recently moved Horford into the starting lineup, a sign of just how valuable he’s become in stabilizing a Warriors team still searching for consistency.
Now, Horford is staring down a date that’s sure to stir some emotions. On February 19, just after the All-Star break, he’ll face the Celtics for the first time in a Warriors uniform. His lone return to TD Garden this season comes a month later, on March 18.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Horford said. “The kids were in school, we had our life in Boston.
But for me, it’s always been about faith and growth. I felt like it was time to do something different.
And I’m at peace with that.”
Still, that trip back to Boston?
“It’s going to be very, very nice,” he said. “It’s like going back home.”