After watching the Boston Celtics lose Jayson Tatum to injury last spring and Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet over the summer, Al Horford decided to take his talents elsewhere last offseason. The Celtics seemed headed for a bridge year, and Horford wanted another crack at an NBA title at age 39.
The veteran big man signed a two-year deal with the Golden State Warriors, getting the chance to play with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. Few Boston fans blamed him at the time.
Unfortunately for Horford, that move has backfired spectacularly. The Celtics have been one of the best teams in the NBA this year and look like legit title contenders again after getting Tatum back early.
Al Horford choosing the Warriors over the Celtics has to be the biggest mistake of the offseason… https://t.co/CFoU8ndAPr pic.twitter.com/uPHrpJjWha
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) March 10, 2026
Meanwhile, the Warriors have been a massive disappointment. Butler and Curry are both hurt and haven't played since January, dooming Golden State's championship hopes. The Warriors are down to .500 and the ninth seed in the West after losing 13 of their last 20 games.
"Al Horford choosing to leave the Celtics to go to the Warriors because he thought, hey, better chance to win a championship with the Golden State Warriors...boy, what a mistake for Al Horford," Kevin O'Connor said Monday on his podcast.
He's absolutely right, but in Horford's defense, nobody thought Boston was going to be this good or that Tatum would return this soon. And while Golden State has been ruined by injuries, you can't predict those.
Regardless, Horford probably wishes he was still with the Celtics.
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