One day after concluding his 18th NBA season, Al Horford said he had yet to decide on his plan for Year 19.
Asked Saturday whether he planned to play another season and hoped to remain in Boston, the Celtics big man said he was not yet ready to make those decisions.
“I’m going to take some time here with my wife and my kids and just that,” Horford, who is an impending unrestricted free agent, said after the New York Knicks eliminated the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. “But it’s not even been a day, so there’s still a lot for me to process, and just feeling everything out from last night, that was difficult.”
That was a departure from what Horford, who turns 39 on June 3, said just one month earlier. While attending the NCAA national championship in early April, the Celtics’ elder statesman told a reporter he planned to play next season. Why the change in messaging?
“I’m just not ready to talk about that right now,” said Horford, who spent seven of the last nine seasons in Boston and was a key part of the team’s 2023-24 championship squad. “I just need some time with my wife and my family, and that’s what I plan on doing these next few weeks.”
Horford was asked whether Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, which is expected to sideline the Celtics star for most or all of next season, was contributing to his hesitancy.
“I just think everything is just still very fresh for me,” he replied. “Those are all things that I’ll be thinking about these next few weeks.”
Though he was one of the NBA’s oldest players this season, Horford remained effective for Boston, appearing in 60 games with 42 starts and delivering standout performances against the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and Nikola Jokic. He blocked five shots in a first-round playoff game against Orlando, prompting head coach Joe Mazzulla to say: “There should be a separate stat sheet for guys like him because of the type of stuff that he does.”
Horford also is a universally respected voice in the Celtics’ locker room. Multiple Boston teammates said they hope he stays.
“I mean, you can’t replace Al,” Payton Pritchard said. “So I definitely hope we can get that figured out, because just his locker room presence alone is crucial. And then having him on the court, just for all the young guys to see how he goes about his business how professional he is, he’s just a leader. So we definitely need him back.”
“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had at any single level,” Sam Hauser added. “… He’s got five kids at home, he’s gotta be really efficient when he’s here, but he’s always in early getting his pre-court in and getting his rehab in, getting his treatment in, getting his shots up, doing whatever it takes to be prepared on the court but then also knowing he’s gotta be a father at home too for five kids. … So I appreciate him and obviously we would love to have him back, but I’m sure he’s going to take his time and do what’s right for him. Whatever he decides, that’s the right decision.”
Fellow big man Luke Kornet, who also is set to hit free agency, called Horford “the best teammate I’ve ever played with.”
“He’s obviously meant a lot to our team and this franchise,” Kornet said, “and he’s obviously an incredibly accomplished player and great, but I feel like in terms of an identity for the team, so much of it is him and his leadership.”
Beyond his personal desires, the Celtics’ financial situation also could influence whether Horford returns for 2025-26. They’re expected to make substantial changes to their roster this offseason and might have limited money to offer a player like Horford, who made $9.5 million this season.
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