After a long wait, Al Horford saw some silver lining with the Boston Celtics’ 18th championship victory. When it was time for the veteran to enjoy his golden days, rumors of his retirement started circulating. While the big man didn’t react much, his sister Anna Horford took matters into her own hands.
Lashing out at her elder brother’s doubters, Anna wrote on X (FKA Twitter), “Rumors about Al retiring were always weird. It’d be one thing if he were a minimal bench player who came in every now & then. He started the majority of the playoffs & was crucial to the Cs success. Age doesn’t really matter when he’s still one of the best bigs in the league…”
Anna is right that Horford was an integral part of the team. During teammate Kristaps Porzingis’ absence in the playoffs, the 38-year-old stepped up for the team and started in 15 of 19 games. Besides scoring 9.2 points per playoff game, the 5-time All-Star grabbed seven rebounds and distributed 2.1 assists every game night for the Greens.
After honoring and cheering for Horford, the NBA community anticipated that, because of his age, he would end his career following the glorious win. However, Big Al is not done yet. He confirmed that he would be back with the team the following season.
Al Horford Confirms His Return Next Season
Many believed that Al Horford would end his career happily by fulfilling his dream of winning the championship ring. But the 6-foot-9 center confirmed his return to the hardwood and displayed optimism in bagging another win.
Speaking to TMZ Sports regarding his return, Horford said, “I have [made my decision], there’s no question about it.” Surprised about his retirement rumors, he stated, “I don’t know why there’s speculation out there that I was retiring. I’m still playing and I’m very excited for next season.”
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Horford further showed confidence in the Celtics’ ability to achieve championship success again. Even in the last year (2024-2025) of his $19.5 million contract, the center wants to stay focused and determined to repeat their title win. For now, Horford can rest before suiting up for the Celtics again.
