The Golden State Warriors have secured veteran huge man Al Horford, with the five-time All-Star committing to a multi-year contract, in accordance with Shams Charania. The deal positions Horford as Golden State’s beginning middle for the 2025-26 season.
Horford, 39, spent seven of the previous 9 years with the Boston Celtics, together with their 2024 championship run. He averaged 9.0 factors, 6.2 rebounds, and a couple of.1 assists in 60 video games throughout the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
The veteran reacted to his departure from the Celtics by issuing a public message on X: “From the second we arrived, you might have welcomed my household and I with open arms. This chapter in my profession will maintain a particular place in my coronary heart. Elevating banner 18 with this metropolis will probably be a second I’ll all the time cherish. I’m perpetually grateful for the followers and the group. Thanks, Boston.”
The Warriors had lengthy been linked to Horford, with negotiations delayed by the crew’s restricted free company scenario involving Jonathan Kuminga.
Horford’s presence is anticipated to permit Draymond Inexperienced to take fewer matchups in opposition to greater opponents throughout the common season, preserving his vitality for the playoffs.
His function will possible embody fastidiously managed minutes. Golden State is anticipated to sit down him in back-to-backs and monitor his workload all year long. Regardless of his age, Horford stays an efficient contributor on each ends of the ground.
Within the 2025 postseason with Boston, he began 9 of 11 video games, averaging 8.0 factors and 6.0 rebounds whereas hitting 40 % of his makes an attempt from past the arc. His ground spacing, defensive communication, and high-post facilitation add versatility to Golden State’s system.
