Boston Celtics
Horford said he would share more details later before adding that he felt it was time for him to go elsewhere.
Al Horford AP Photo/Eakin Howard
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Al Horford’s second stint with the Celtics was longer than his first, and it ended this past offseason when he decided to sign with the Golden State Warriors.
There were a number of factors at play, including money and basketball opportunities. The Celtics were looking to shed salary and get under the second luxury tax apron at the time. Horford was eyeing a fresh start elsewhere.
Horford was asked about why he left Boston after the Celtics beat the Warriors 121-110 in San Francisco on Thursday night. He didn’t get into specifics, but suggested that the decision may have involved some non-basketball related issues.
“I kind of talked about that a little bit earlier,” Horford said. “But for me, the decision had something that was deeper than just the basketball stuff of it, and it’s something that at some point I’ll share with people, but for me if felt like it was the time to go elsewhere.”
It’s the second time Horford left the Celtics. He signed with the 76ers in free agency ahead of the 2020 season. Philadelphia traded him to Oklahoma City a year later, and the Celtics brought him back to Boston via a trade with the Thunder.
Horford to @RealBobManning on his departure from BOS: “For me, the decision, it’s something that’s deeper than just the basketball stuff. And it’s something that at some point I’ll share with people, but for me, it felt like it was the time for me to go elsewhere.” @CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/lsPh0sJHYP
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) February 20, 2026
In total, Horford spent seven seasons with the Celtics and won his only NBA title with the franchise. He has only spent more time with the Hawks, where he began his career nearly two decades ago.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was asked about Horford’s comments after the game.
“At the end of the day, I’m just grateful that I got to coach him,” Mazzulla said. “To me he’s a Hall-of-Famer and he’s one of the guys when I first got the job that had my back and I think that says a lot about who he is as a veteran. I think one of the biggest things to respect is to compete against somebody and how you treat that person.”
“We treat him with the utmost respect because of his ability to impact the game at both ends of the floor, and then at the end of the day you say ‘hi’ to him, his wife, and his kids, and you’re just grateful for the relationship that you have moving forward.”
Horford also had praise for Mazzulla after the game. He said that he felt the Celtics found the blueprint to winning with a variety of players filling in for injured ones last year.
“The biggest thing is that everybody’s bought into what Joe is telling them, and he’s just running a really good program over there,” Horford said. “Him and all those assistant coaches, they’re really doing a good job getting the guys ready, getting them to commit and play at a high level, and that’s why I feel like it’s so smooth.”
The 39-year-old Horford was asked if he would consider retiring with the Celtics when the time comes.
“As far as the end of my career, I don’t know,” Horford said. “I mean, I always keep that open. It would definitely be a privilege to do that. But I’m just obviously just trying to focus on finishing out this year.”
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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