Full Breakdown
Al Horford Re-signs with Warriors on Two-Year, $14 M Deal
6/26/2026, 1:31:55 PM
Horford Returns
Al Horford declined his $5.97-$6 million player option and signed a fully guaranteed two-year, $14 million contract with the Golden State Warriors, becoming the 13th player in NBA history to reach a 20th season.
Health Overview
Horford played 45 games last season, averaging 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 36.1 % from three-point range. Sciatica and a calf strain limited his availability; he will train with the Warriors’ medical staff, led by Rick Celebrini, and skip the Dominican national-team summer schedule.
Contract Milestone
The fully guaranteed deal includes a trade kicker and puts Horford alongside LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He will be the first Warrior to play a regular-season game at age 40+ and joins the seven-player club with 1,000+ career blocks and 1,000+ threes.
Official Statements
Horford said the team’s health situation, especially Jimmy Butler’s ACL injury, motivated his return. He stressed he is “putting all my energy and focus into making sure I’m the best for our team” and feels “really good” about his health. Continuity with coach Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry also factored into his decision.
Criticism
Sports Illustrated noted “retirement buzz” and questioned Horford’s long-term value given his age and injury history. Critics say the Warriors’ salary-cap constraints could limit flexibility, making the veteran’s contract a risk if the team seeks younger center depth.
Outlook
General manager Mike Dunleavy is in talks with Kristaps Porzingis for a short-term deal, while Draymond Green’s $27.6 million player option is pending. The Warriors drafted Dominican forward Yaxel Lendeborg (11th overall), whom Horford called “NBA ready.” If the core—Curry, Green, Butler and a healthy Horford—stays together, Golden State aims to contend for another championship while balancing veteran depth with emerging talent.
Verbatim Quotes
- “That [injury] kind of put a damper on things. Jimmy is a very special player, and he was doing so much for us. I feel like things were starting to turn.” — Al Horford, Veteran Center
- “I'm putting all my energy and focus into making sure that I'm the best for our team.” — Al Horford
- “The last five years, honestly, I've been taking it year to year. That's been my approach. But with this two-year deal I'm signing, I'm like, 'Hey, let's just kind of let it rip.' I'm not going to limit myself. As long as I feel good and I'm helping the team and we're doing great things, we'll keep it going.” — Al Horford
- “It's hard to believe. It's something that, for me, I'm very grateful. It's just so hard to be in this league for that amount of years. There's a lot of commitment, a lot of sacrifice and time. I still feel like I'm able to contribute and have an impact on a team.” — Al Horford
