Al Horford Reveals Why He Made ‘Tough Decision’ To Leave Celtics
The Boston Celtics lost several notable players from their 2024 championship team this offseason, including Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet and Al Horford.
While Porzingis and Holiday were traded, Kornet and Horford left voluntarily, signing with Western Conference teams in free agency. Horford, 39. signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Golden State Warriors, who beat him and his teammates in the 2022 NBA Finals.
With Horford entering his 19th NBA season, the veteran big man recently opened up to The Athletic’s Nick Friedell about why he decided to move on this summer after seven seasons with the Celtics.
“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 said, referring to the Celtics’ potential offer and championship window.
While Horford made it clear that he wanted to stay in Boston, he ultimately had to do what was best for him, his family and his career.
“There were 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 were 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.”
With Boston trying to get under the second apron, it had to cut costs this offseason and wasn’t in a position to give Horford the salary he was looking for. Furthermore, the team is facing an uncertain future following Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury and the aforementioned departures.
With Horford’s career winding down, he’d like to win another championship before he retires and doesn’t have time to wait out a possible rebuild.
“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…”
Meanwhile, the Warriors are in win-now mode with Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, giving Horford a more realistic shot at another ring. Even if the Celtics make the playoffs this year, they probably don’t have enough talent to make a deep run.
While Boston fans are sad to see him go, at least he got to leave the team on his own terms and didn’t join an Eastern Conference rival, making his departure more tolerable.