5x NBA All-Star signs extension with Boston Celtics
By Sam LaFrance
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnorowski reported Thursday morning that Boston Celtics center Al Horford agreed to a two-year extension to remain with the team through the 2024-25 NBA season. The deal will be worth $20 million over the two seasons and will see Horford as a member of the C’s until he is 39.
Horford is currently playing out the final year of a four-year, $109 million contract that he signed when he joined the Philadelphia 76ers back in 2019. He is set to make $26.5 million this season with the Celtics, and his new deal is set to kick in next season. The extension eliminates any possibility that Horford will jump ship, like he did back when he joined the Sixers.
The 36-year-old has been named an NBA All Star five times during his 16 year career. Since being traded back to the Celtics back in 2021, he has seen his career get a bit of a second wind. Last season, he proved to be an important part of a team that made an NBA Finals run. Horford averaged 12 points, nine rebounds, and three assists during the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
The 2022 postseason made Al Horford irreplaceable for the Boston Celtics
Throughout Boston’s Finals run, Al Horford put together some memorable performances, including a 26-point game in his NBA Finals debut against the Golden State Warriors where he spearheaded a fourth quarter comeback. He also played a big part in Boston’s second round series win against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. The 5x All-Star spent a lot of time as the primary defender on the Greek Freak and went toe-to-toe with the two-time-MVP. Horford led Boston to a comeback win in Game 4, when he scored 30 points and grabbed eight boards.
Horford has carried over his playoff consistency into this season. Through 22 games he is putting up just under 11 points per game on 55% shooting overall and a career-high 48% from beyond the arc. Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens made a great choice to extend the reliable big man, as he is proving to be an important component to the team’s success.