Entering his 19th season in the NBA, free agent Al Horford will be the Warriors’ starting center after making a verbal commitment to Golden State on Sunday, per an ESPN report.
Horford’s agent, Jason Glushon, told ESPN on Sunday that the 39-year-old will sign a multiyear deal to head west after spending seven of the last nine seasons with the Boston Celtics. Horford won a title with Boston in 2024.
Per the report, Horford’s agent and the Warriors have yet to finalize the contract and are awaiting a decision from restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.
One of four players in NBA history with 900 made 3-pointers and 1,300 blocks along with Rasheed Wallace, Brook Lopez and Clifford Robinson, Horford should blend in nicely with the Warriors’ core of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green. The veteran 6-foot-9, 240-pound center has shot 41 percent from beyond the arc and sunk more than 100 3-pointers in each of the past three seasons.
Last season with the Celtics, Horford — a five-time All-Star — started 42 of 60 games and averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists while connecting on 36.3 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Over his 18 seasons, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 draft by the Atlanta Hawks has averaged 12.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range in 1,138 games (1,078 starts).
Horford spent his first nine seasons with Atlanta (2007-16), then joined the Celtics for three seasons (2016-19) before playing one season apiece for the Philadelphia 76ers (2019-20) and Oklahoma City Thunder (2020-21). Named to the 2017-18 All-Defensive Team, he rejoined Boston for the 2021-22 season.
