Al Horford explained why he decided to leave the Celtics

Even in an offseason of high-profile participant departures, the exit of Al Horford caught out as a serious loss for the Celtics.

Horford, 39, left Boston as a free agent, opting to sign with the Golden State Warriors on a two-year deal in late September.

Although his function statistically declined in his remaining two seasons with the crew (as Horford was used extra coming off the bench), he remained not solely vitally vital for his on-court contributions, but in addition his management. And due to his means and the respect he garnered from teammates, Horford was (and stays) a fan favourite.

So why did the longtime Boston ahead resolve to depart the place he’d helped win a title in 2024?

Horford lately elaborated on the topic with Nick Friedell of The Athletic, citing cash, however — extra importantly — an opportunity to win, because the underlining causes for his departure. He particularly referenced the uncertainty raised by Jayson Tatum’s Achilles rupture (and unknown return timeline). He additionally identified that had circumstances been completely different, he would’ve stayed.

“There [were] two issues there,” Horford informed Friedell. “I believe the monetary half was a element, however greater than that, it was the profitable a part of it, making an attempt to contend for a championship. And I believe there was a number of issues up within the air — and it simply felt like they weren’t in the identical, that very same imaginative and prescient, clearly, as a result of JT getting harm, that takes an enormous toll. So I believe at that time I actually needed to — up till then I used to be staying in Boston the entire time.”

Horford, who left Boston as a free agent as soon as earlier than (with the 76ers in 2019), mentioned that he merely wasn’t going to get what he wished from the Celtics as he seems to a profession timeline that’s inevitably winding down.

“They simply weren’t able to supply me the chance that I wished.”

As Boston’s eventful offseason performed out — with Tatum’s rehab continuing, in addition to the trades of each Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis away from the Celtics — Horford mentioned it had a “domino impact” on his pondering.

“I believe as soon as that offseason occurred and it began to progress, it grew to become clear to me the crew had completely different priorities,” Horford informed Friedell. “Clearly, eliminating Jrue, eliminating Kristaps. And I do know it’s all wage stuff, however it was like a domino impact, and it was robust for me. It was a tricky determination, however my spouse and I, we prayed about it. I knew that it needed to be one thing that was going to be — that my household needed to be on board with me for us to proceed in one thing like this. And that was it.”

Now, Horford can be part of the Warriors in 2025-26. When requested if he thinks Golden State can be his final crew, he replied, “I believe so.”

Initially a first-round choose by the Hawks in 2007, Horford is a five-time All-Star. He first signed with the Celtics in 2016, and returned to Boston by way of commerce in 2021.