How the Warriors convinced a Celtics legend to chase one last title in San Francisco
The center signs a multi-year deal with Golden State after becoming a free agent, leaving Boston as a champion and franchise icon.
One of the last major loose ends of the NBA offseason has been tied up. Al Horford, one of the league’s most influential centers in recent years, is leaving the Boston Celtics for San Francisco. According to reports from the US, he will sign a multi-year contract with the Golden State Warriors, who had been aggressively pursuing him for weeks. Horford departs Boston as a franchise legend, having played seven of the last nine seasons there and capturing his only NBA championship ring last year.
Why Al Horford joined Warriors
The Dominican veteran had become one of the most sought-after pieces among contenders. The New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers – and of course the Celtics themselves – all wanted him. But as a free agent, Horford had the freedom to choose, and the chance to join the most successful team of the past decade, playing alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, ultimately carried more weight than Boston’s offer.
For Golden State, Horford fills a crucial need. The Warriors believe his size, shooting range, passing vision, and defensive intelligence make him the perfect complement to their Big Three of Curry, Green, and Jimmy Butler.The numbers back that up: Horford has made over 100 three-pointers in each of the last three seasons, shooting 41% from deep across that stretch.
On the defensive end, his impact remains elite. Last season, opponents shot just 46% against him in isolation, the seventh-best mark in the league. He also ranked sixth in total isolation possessions defended and, even at 39, remains one of the few big men capable of seamlessly switching onto players with very different physical profiles. His longevity has put him in rare company – he is one of only four players in NBA history with at least 900 made threes and 1,200 blocks, alongside Brook Lopez, Rasheed Wallace, and Clifford Robinson.
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