Al Horford, Boston Celtics
Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images
Al Horford, Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics opened the second half of their season Thursday night at Chase Center in San Francisco. The Golden State Warriors entered the game sitting eighth in the Western Conference. Boston improved to 36-19 with a 121-110 victory, maintaining second place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Thursday marked a reunion. Al Horford faced his former team for the first time since leaving Boston last summer. He spent seven seasons with the Celtics across two stints and helped deliver the 2024 championship before signing with Golden State in free agency.
Before tip-off, Horford met with reporters and addressed his departure. What he said added new context to a decision that seemed straightforward at the time.
Horford Opens Up on His Departure
Al Horford’s exit from Boston last summer made sense on the surface. Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury eliminated the franchise’s championship window. The Celtics moved on from Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Horford, approaching his 40th birthday in June, signed with Golden State to chase another title alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Thursday revealed there was more to it.
“For me, the decision, it’s something that’s deeper than just the basketball stuff,” Horford said. “And it’s something that at some point I’ll share with people, but for me, it felt like it was the time for me to go elsewhere.”
The quote was surprising. Horford has always been transparent and thoughtful with his words. The pause here carries weight. He’s not avoiding the question. He’s choosing when to answer it fully.
The full explanation will come when Horford decides the time is right. For someone who spent nearly a decade in Boston’s culture, that explanation matters to the fanbase that watched him become a champion.
Horford still praised the organization before Thursday’s game. He pointed to Neemias Queta and Jordan Walsh’s development as the most surprising aspect of Boston’s season. He credited Joe Mazzulla and Brad Stevens for building something sustainable. Those aren’t the words of someone who left on bad terms.
Legion Hoops
Al Horford admits he left the Celtics due to something “deeper than basketball”, per @ByJayKing.
“At some point I’ll share with people.” 👀
Horford’s Impact on Boston
Across his two stints with the franchise, Horford became one of the most respected figures in Celtics history. He arrived in 2016, left in 2019, and returned in 2021 to help finish what he started. The 2024 championship was the culmination of everything he poured into the organization across nearly a decade.
His contributions extended well beyond statistics. Younger players leaned on him. Coaches trusted him in critical moments. His son Ean became a familiar presence near the bench, part of the fabric of a team that felt like family to the Horford household.
In his first season with Golden State, Horford is averaging 7.6 points and 4.9 rebounds across 34 games. He remains effective, a reliable connector on a Warriors team that needed his experience and shooting. Thursday night he finished with 5 points and 8 rebounds against the team that shaped so much of his career.
Boston Celtics
GettyJayson Tatum #0, Al Horford #42, Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrate after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals
Celtics Dominate Warriors for Three Quarters
Boston controlled Thursday’s game from the opening tip. The Celtics generated 19 first-half assists, moving the ball with precision that left Golden State’s defense scrambling. The lead grew to 23 by halftime, and stretched as big as 34 points.
Jaylen Brown delivered in his first game since earning All-Star starter recognition. He completed a triple-double with two minutes remaining in the third quarter, finishing with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists. Payton Pritchard added 26 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds.
The fourth quarter brought some tension. Golden State cut the deficit down to 11. Brown returned with six minutes left and steadied the situation. The Warriors couldn’t complete the comeback.
Final Word for the Celtics
Al Horford’s departure from Boston has been accepted with grace on both sides. Thursday partly reinforced that, but also brought some new questions. Horford’s quote was cryptic, but he also had praise for the organization, and respect for his former teammates.
The fuller explanation about why he left will come when Horford is ready to provide it. Celtics fans understand who Horford is well enough to wait for that story.
Boston sits at 36-19 with Jayson Tatum reportedly nearing a return. Brown posted a triple-double in the first game after the All-Star break. The bench contributed. The ball movement looked sharp.
The second half has started exactly how Boston needed it to.