Al Horford probably envisioned spending the rest of his career with the Boston Celtics. That changed when Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles. Perhaps he would have departed in free agency anyway. The franchise had to reset and gain flexibility after consecutive campaigns over the second apron. Changes were coming, independently of Tatum's injury.
Still, as the Celtics' president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, conveyed at media day, Boston tried its best to keep him. While some fans are upset that he didn't stick around, the organization doesn't share that sentiment.
"Al, I've been here when I was coaching and flew down to Atlanta and was part of that group that tried to recruit Al to come here the first time," said Stevens on Monday at the Auerbach Center. "He left a couple [of] years later, and we were fortunate enough to get him back, right? So, it feels like, even though there was a small interruption there, it feels like an unbelievable eight years or somewhat of six years together and six or seven years together. And I just think he deserves to make whatever decision he wants. We tried. We offered both Al and Luke the opportunity to stay, but I think you can see where our contracts were with who we signed that we were going to be handcuffed around the aprons a little bit."
It seems misguided to blame someone for doing what is best for them. Horford staying would have been admirable. However, it's easy to understand why, at age 38, he opted against spending a season on a team that is unlikely to contend for a championship.
Al Horford shares why he joined the Warriors
The five-time All-Star leaving Boston, as much as he preferred not to, was one matter; where he would take his talents was another.
Speaking with the media for the first time after he signed with the Golden State Warriors, Horford explained his decision.
Al Horford, who says he didn't truly consider retiring, on joining the Warriors:
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) October 2, 2025
"It wasn't an easy decision for me to leave Boston, but if there was a place, it was this one."pic.twitter.com/Ea4bvrB0UI
"It's a great opportunity to compete and to win at a high level," said Horford. "When I think about the Warriors, I think about Steph [Curry] and Draymond [Green] and Steve Kerr and seeing Jimmy Butler here. What he did in that second half of the season last year after the trade, and how they're playing. It wasn't an easy decision for me to leave Boston, but if there was a place that was this one, and it happened, and I happened to give this opportunity, so I jumped at it."