Athletic: Horford Opens Up About Leaving Boston

[Donoghus]

LOS ANGELES ? Al Horford wasn?t planning to leave the Boston Celtics. He was happy there; his family was settled there after two separate stops and a combined seven years playing for the storied organization. But Jayson Tatum?s Achilles injury changed everything for the Celtics. For Horford, it altered the course of his summer ? and the end of his career.

?I think that where Boston was as a team, even though I called them my home and everything was there for me, they just weren?t in a position to offer me the opportunity that I wanted,? Horford told The Athletic.

For the 39-year-old Horford, who decided to sign with the Golden State Warriors in early October instead of coming back for another season with Boston, the decision was based on several key factors aside from Tatum?s career-altering injury.

?There was two things there,? Horford explained. ?I think the financial part was a component, but more than that, it was the winning part of it, trying to contend for a championship. And I think there was a lot of things up in the air ? and it just felt like they weren?t in the same, that same vision, obviously, because JT getting hurt, that takes a big toll. So I think at that point I really had to ? up until then I was staying in Boston the whole time.?
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Horford helped lead the Celtics to a championship in 2024 and became a trusted presence on the floor and respected figure within the community. After officially signing with the Warriors last week, he talked openly about how much love he had for the city of Boston and how the Warriors were the only place he would have left the Celtics for. As he reflected upon his decision, Horford noted that part of the reason his decision ultimately went the way it did was because of the other decisions the Celtics front office made as they reshaped the roster after Tatum?s injury.

?I think once that offseason happened and it started to progress, it became clear to me the team had different priorities,? Horford said. ?Obviously, getting rid of Jrue (Holiday), getting rid of Kristaps (Porziņģis). And I know it?s all salary stuff, but it was like a domino effect, and it was tough for me. It was a tough decision, but my wife and I, we prayed about it. I knew that it had to be something that was gonna be ? that my family had to be on board with me for us to proceed in something like this. And that was it.?

The Warriors provided the type of well-run team ? and championship opportunity this season ? that made the move smoother, and Horford thought he would fit within their mix of high-level veterans and younger players looking to make their own mark. Horford said at his opening news conference last week that he did not have a relationship with Warriors team leaders Stephen Curry and Draymond Green before signing with Golden State. But once it became clear that playing with the Warriors was a possibility, he started to get a recruiting pitch from both.

?Yeah, I had communication with them, with Steph and Draymond,? Horford said. ?And that was important. It happened very fast because it was at a point where they came to me and they?re like, ?Hey, we?d love to have you,? and all these things. And it was one of these things that, for me, looking at this fit and the potential, it just felt right. So them reaching out to me was important.?

The accolades continue to pour in for Horford during his first two weeks with the Warriors. Players and coaches rave about his fit within the culture of the group on and off the floor. Young players appreciate the fact that he offers advice and shares stories with them as he enters the 19th NBA season. Players talk about him with reverence the same way so many of his old teammates have throughout his career. Horford has earned trust with his new team from his play in practice ? and with the way he carries himself.

As a new member of a team that is trying to maintain its own high standards, Horford is trying to pick his spots carefully as he learns from the example that Curry, Green and veteran swingman Jimmy Butler set with their work each day.

?As a newcomer, I don?t have all the answers,? Horford said. ?I?m coming in with a mindset that I?m gonna learn, and I?m trying to understand how they operate, how they do things. I?ve played against them for a lot of years. I?ve covered their system, so I understand certain things, and I don?t really fully understand what it?s like to be a Warrior. So, for me, I?m coming in here trying to learn. I?m trying to learn as quick as I can because I don?t have all the time in the world. We?re trying to do some really special things here, and it?s just trying to get acclimated as quickly as I can with coach (Steve Kerr), with his terminology, with the players, things that they like, things that they don?t. Just trying to fit into the system.?

Horford never thought he would leave Boston, but now he is hopeful that San Francisco is the final stop in his NBA journey. He knows anything can happen in the league, but he believes the Warriors will be his last team.

?Yeah, I think so,? Horford said. ?I think at this point in my career, where I see everything, that is my expectation, just to be here.?

[Goldstar88]

I don?t blame Horford for wanting to play meaningful basketball this season. Especially when it could be his last.

[Roy H.]

I don?t blame Horford for wanting to playing meaningful basketball this season. Especially when it could be his last.

I agree, although I'm thinking that this year's team with Horford would have been as much of a contender as GSW will be in the West.

Horford / Queta / Garza
Boucher / Minott
Brown / Hauser
White / Gonzalez
Simons / Pritchard

My guess is that that team would have finished between 5th and 8th in the East, which is probably about where Golden State will end up.