No, Al Horford isn't retiring before the start of the 2024-25 Boston Celtics season. Yes, Anna Horford may have been tricked by a troll account on Twitter claiming that Horford was. That, or she's just fed up with lies about her brother's career.
Al Horford's sister, Anna, shuts down fake rumor about his retirement
The account even came up with a fake quote and tagged the Celtics' official team account.
“I’ve worked 17 years for this, and I can now proudly say I’m a champion," the account claimed Horford said. "My basketball mission is complete."
Anna wasn't laughing at the gag.
Yeah, no. https://t.co/KpziLjNsSc
— Anna Horford (@AnnaHorford) September 10, 2024
Replacing Horford is of the utmost importance in Boston. It's not a pressing issue yet, but it could be after the 2024-25 season when Horford's contract expires and he's 39 years old.
The veteran big man has taken Xavier Tillman under his wing, and the results have been good so far. Tillman rose to the occasion in select moments throughout the postseason and hit a massive corner-three in Game 3 of the NBA Finals that felt like the series' dagger. He is also a very switchable defender, already capable of keeping up with some of the league's best players.
All that said, expecting Tillman to replace a two-time collegiate champion and ex-lottery pick is an impossible ask. Ditto for two-way contract holder Anton Watson, though he played very well in Summer League. He's also a switchable defender who can knock down three-pointers.
Kristaps Porzingis is a luxury for the Celtics because of how frequently he gets injured. Horford is a constant presence, and Boston hasn't been without him since their least successful season of the "Jays" era in 2020-21.
Porzingis serves a different role, and while it's an important one, he'll likely never be what Horford has been for Boston. We've seen the Celtics decimate the East with Horford. We haven't seen the same thing with Porzingis just yet. At least not consistently in the postseason.
Boston's front office has to feel lucky that Horford is coming back after winning an NBA Championship ring in his 17th season. He could've called it a career with titles in college and the pros. Rather than sailing off into the sunset, he'll be back in green next season.
But the Celtics cannot continue to rely on luck. Finding the next great Boston big man is their most vital task, especially with the team's core locked up long-term.