New Golden State Warriors center Al Horford was integral to the Boston Celtics‘ on-court success, but his contributions extended beyond the court. Horford was the locker room leader and served as a mentor to his teammates, most of whom entered the NBA more than a decade after he turned pro in 2007.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson believes Horford can play a similar role on a Warriors team that has several younger players in bench roles.
Horford, 39 years old, in his own ways will have influence over the few young players on the Warriors, most notably for 25-year-old centers Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis,” wrote Johnson.
Plus, any help at center is a win for Draymond Green and his health for a full season. Horford also brings something the Warriors have never had at his position.
Al Horford Fill Huge Void
To Johnson’s point, Horford, who made 1.9 threes per game last season, will perform the role of a stretch 5 — a luxury the Warriors have never had in the Steve Kerr era. Golden State has had several rim runners and lob threats over the years — but never a reliable floor-spacing center who can consistently knock down shots.
He now has made the fourth-most threes (877) by a center in NBA history, behind only Karl-Anthony Towns, Brook Lopez and Nikola Vučević, in that order,” Johnson wrote. “Horford has made at least 100 threes in each of the last three seasons while connecting on 40.9 percent of them.
“This past season he only played 60 games, a career low for a full season, yet still made his second-most threes (114) and also attempted his second most (314).”
Celtics Teammates Idolized Him
During his time with the Celtics, Horford was beloved for his leadership both on and off the court. In the lead-up to the 2025 playoffs, Jayson Tatum spoke glowingly about Horford’s leadership, going as far as to suggest that Horford taught him to be a pro.
Al showed me what it means to be a professional,” Tatum said of Horford, while reflecting on the Dominican’s role in mentoring him as a youngser in the NBA.
“Somebody that came to work every day. Had a routine, had a plan, whether it was a practice day, a game day or off day. That was so beneficial to me. When I was young, I just think I can show up, put my shoes on and get on the court. Al really showed me — not even by telling — just by watching him go through his routine. Al’s in year 18 and still [a] vital part of a championship team.”
Payton Pritchard, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, said after the 2025 NBA playoffs that Horford’s role was irreplaceable in the locker room.
“You can’t replace Al,” Pritchard said. “I definitely hope we get that figured out because his locker room presence alone is just crucial. We definitely need him back.”
Al Horford Predicted to Replicate Key Celtics Role on Warriors