Al Horford unsure about future following Celtics’ season-ending loss to Knicks
"I’m just not ready to talk about that right now."
In recent weeks, there had been a growing sense that Al Horford would return for a 19th NBA season in 2025-26. However, he doesn’t seem so certain about what the future holds for him following the Celtics’ season-ending loss to the Knicks.
The 38-year-old big was non-committal when asked about his plans for the 2025-26 season when he met with reporters during the Celtics’ exit interview on Saturday.
“I’m going to take some time here with my wife and my kids and just that,” Horford said. “But it’s not even been a day, so there’s still a lot for me to process and just feeling everything out from last night, that was difficult.
“I’m just not ready to talk about that right now,” Horford added when he was asked about his potential plans for a 19th season. “I just need some time with my wife and my family, and that’s what I plan on doing these next few weeks.”
Horford’s unsure stance on Saturday actually runs contrary to an offhand comment he made in April. After watching his alma mater Florida win the men’s national basketball championship, he told Fox Sports’ John Fanta that he knew he would be playing against Gators guard and draft hopeful Walter Clayton Jr. in 2025-26.
”Maybe he’ll be with us,” Horford added.
Additionally, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported last Saturday that Horford was expected to keep playing in 2025-26, although he noted that where he would play was a bit uncertain due to his upcoming free agency.
The equation on whether Horford wants to play in 2025-26 might have changed, though, this past week. Of course, the Celtics were knocked out of the playoffs much earlier than expected, falling to the Knicks in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals. On top of that, Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles in their Game 4 loss on Monday, potentially leaving Boston without its best player for the entirety of the 2025-26 season. If that’s the case, the Celtics’ path to winning a title next year would be far more difficult.
Beyond the Tatum injury, Boston was set to navigate a tough offseason this summer. It had been reported on multiple occasions that the Celtics were likely to offload some salary this offseason in order to help get their payroll back in check and limit the penalties from being above the second luxury tax apron.
As Horford is set to hit free agency this summer, the Celtics already have $464 million committed in payroll next season in salaries and repeat luxury tax penalties, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. If the Celtics kept their draft picks, didn’t trade anyone, and signed players to veteran minimum deals to round the roster, that number will exceed $500 million, Marks added.
The Celtics could sign Horford to a deal worth more than the veteran’s minimum as they have his Bird Rights, but it would obviously be ideal if they could get him to re-sign on a minimum contract. Horford would also have to be willing to sign such a deal as well, which would mean taking a pay cut from the $9.5 million salary he had this past season.
But Horford still has to determine whether he still wants to keep playing or not first.
“I just think everything is just still very fresh for me,” Horford added on his future. “Those are all things that I’ll be thinking about these next few weeks.”
Losing Horford, whether it’s via free agency or retirement, would be an impactful loss for the Celtics. He averaged nine points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 27.7 minutes per game, starting 42 of the 60 regular-season games he played in due to Kristaps Porzingis’s health woes. He also stepped up big defensively in several games throughout the year, with Boston going 31-11 in the games Horford started.
Horford will turn 39 on June 3.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com