Al Horford's journey in the NBA has taken another intriguing turn. Following the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Horford parted ways with the Boston Celtics, opting to sign with the Golden State Warriors during free agency.
This marks the second time Horford has left the Celtics in his career, but there's no animosity from Boston's side. The Celtics were in a transitional phase, especially with Jayson Tatum sidelined due to an Achilles injury.
The 2025-2026 season was anticipated to be a rebuilding year for Boston. Expectations were tempered, with some believing they might just scrape into the playoffs or even land in the lottery. However, the landscape has shifted since then.
When the Celtics faced off against the Warriors on Thursday night, the teams were in contrasting positions. The Warriors found themselves battling in the Western Conference’s Play-In picture, while the Celtics had surged to a top-three spot in the Eastern Conference. From a purely basketball perspective, Horford's move to the Warriors might seem questionable, but the veteran center insists his decision was about more than just the game.
"The decision, it's something that's deeper than just the basketball stuff," Horford shared with reporters. "It's something that at some point I'll share with people, but for me, it felt like it was the time for me to go elsewhere."
Horford's history with the Celtics began in 2016 after a successful stint with the Atlanta Hawks. He enjoyed three productive years in Boston before signing with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019, lured by a substantial offer from a rival team.
However, Philadelphia wasn't the right fit for Horford, and after a brief playoff appearance, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Limited to just 28 games there, Horford eventually found his way back to Boston for the 2021-2022 season.
His second tenure with the Celtics was fruitful, highlighted by a pivotal role in their 2024 NBA Championship win. Yet, when it came time to negotiate a new contract, things didn't pan out as hoped. While Horford hasn't disclosed the specifics behind the scenes, he remains open to the idea of retiring as a Celtic.
“As far as the end of my career, I don’t know. I always keep that open.
It would definitely be a privilege to [retire in Boston]. I’m obviously trying to focus on finishing out this year,” Horford concluded.
Horford's journey underscores the complexities and personal dimensions that often accompany a player's career decisions, reminding us that sometimes the game is about more than just what happens on the court.