Warriors Set to Welcome Back Al Horford for Christmas Day Matchup vs. Mavericks
SAN FRANCISCO - The Golden State Warriors are expected to get a long-awaited reinforcement just in time for their Christmas Day showdown with the Dallas Mavericks: veteran big man Al Horford is slated to return after missing the last seven games with a right sciatica nerve issue.
“Al is likely to play tomorrow,” head coach Steve Kerr said during his Christmas Eve media availability.
It’s been a rocky start to Horford’s tenure in the Bay. The 39-year-old was brought in over the summer to bring championship poise, defensive versatility, and floor spacing to the Warriors’ frontcourt - a skill set the team has often lacked at the center position. But through the first 30 games of the season, Horford’s impact has been minimal, largely due to injuries and load management.
Horford’s availability has been spotty at best. Between the nerve issue and a strict minutes cap - not to mention Golden State’s policy of resting him in back-to-backs - he’s played in just 13 games. And when he’s been on the court, the production hasn’t matched the pedigree: 5.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, while shooting a career-worst 29.8% from three and 32.1% from the field.
That’s not what the Warriors were hoping for when they added the five-time All-Star to the mix. But even a limited Horford could be valuable - especially for a Warriors team still searching for consistency.
In Horford’s absence, second-year center Quinten Post has stepped up in a major way. And it’s not just the eye test - the numbers back it up.
Post leads the team with a +137 plus/minus, ahead of even Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler. His efficiency differential of +11.9 ranks in the 93rd percentile across the league, a staggering stat for a player still early in his NBA journey.
Offensively, Post brings a lot of the same qualities Horford was expected to provide - a stretch-five who can space the floor and keep the offense flowing. But it’s been his defensive growth that’s really caught Kerr’s attention.
“I think his defense has gotten a lot better,” Kerr said earlier this month. “The tape shows it.
The numbers show it. We're more able to switch with him.”
With Post thriving in the starting lineup, Horford isn’t expected to reclaim a major role right away. And with Golden State often running 10 or 11-man rotations, Kerr already has a full deck to manage. Trayce Jackson-Davis has carved out a reliable role as a backup center, and Gui Santos has emerged as a high-energy contributor off the bench.
That said, Horford’s return doesn’t necessarily throw a wrench into the rotation. His minutes will likely remain limited, and the Warriors - who sit at 15-15 - still need size and experience in the frontcourt. If they’re going to make a real push this season, they’ll need to find a way to tap into what Horford can still bring, even in a reduced role.
The Warriors didn’t sign Horford to carry the team. But they did bring him in to help elevate them in the margins - the kind of veteran glue guy who can make a difference in the playoffs. For now, just getting him back on the floor is a step in the right direction.