Basketball moves fast. One minute you’re the athletic young center jumping over everyone in a Florida Gators jersey, and the next, you’re the 39-year-old veteran everyone calls "The Godfather." That’s Al Horford for you. If you’ve watched the NBA at any point over the last two decades, you’ve seen him. But honestly, most people still don't quite get why he's stayed so relevant for so long.
He doesn't have the flashy handles of a point guard. He isn't throwing down posters every night. Yet, here we are in 2026, and Al Horford is still logging meaningful minutes, now sporting a Golden State Warriors jersey and chasing another ring. It's kinda wild when you think about it. Most of the guys he was drafted with in 2007 have been retired for five years. Some are already in the coaching ranks or doing TV spots. Al? He’s still out there locking up centers ten years younger than him and hitting corner threes.
Why Al Horford is the Ultimate Survivalist
Survival in the NBA isn't about being the best; it's about being the most adaptable. When Horford entered the league with the Atlanta Hawks, the "modern" NBA didn't exist. Big men lived in the paint. You banged bodies, you grabbed rebounds, and you took mid-range jumpers if you were feeling fancy.
But the game changed.
The three-point revolution happened, and a lot of traditional centers got phased out because they couldn't guard the perimeter or space the floor. Horford just... evolved. He went from taking zero threes a game to becoming one of the most reliable floor-spacers in the league. You’ve probably seen the stats: he’s a career 37.6% shooter from deep. That’s better than a lot of guards.
👉 See also: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
What's even more impressive is his defensive IQ. Even as his foot speed naturally slowed down with age, his positioning got better. He doesn't need to outjump you if he already knows exactly where you're going to be. That "old man game" is basically a superpower at this point. In the 2024 Celtics championship run, he was the glue. While everyone was talking about Tatum and Brown, Horford was the one making the split-second rotations that kept the defense from collapsing.
The Move to Golden State and the 2026 Landscape
Leaving Boston wasn't easy. He was a hero there. But the business of basketball is cold, and with the Celtics facing massive tax penalties—some reports suggested keeping him would have cost the team $60 million in luxury tax—the move to the Warriors made sense.
He signed a two-year, $11.7 million deal with Golden State late in 2025. It was a classic "win-now" move for Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the Warriors front office. They didn't need him to be a star; they needed him to be a secondary playmaker and a defensive anchor. So far in the 2025-26 season, he’s been exactly that. He’s averaging about 6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in roughly 19 minutes per game. Those aren't "superstar" numbers, but if you watch the games, you see the impact. He’s the guy who sets the perfect screen to get Steph Curry open. He’s the one barking out defensive assignments.
What People Get Wrong About His Legacy
There’s this weird narrative that Al Horford is "boring."
✨ Don't miss: Cowboys Score: Why Dallas Just Can't Finish the Job When it Matters
Sure, he’s quiet. He stays out of the tabloids. He’s a family man who credits his faith for his longevity. But "boring" is the wrong word. "Consistent" is better. Or maybe "essential."
Think about his impact on Dominican basketball. He was the first player from the Dominican Republic to win an NBA championship. His father, Tito Horford, was the first Dominican to ever play in the NBA. That’s a massive weight to carry, but Al has handled it with total grace. During the Celtics' championship parade in 2024, there were arguably as many Dominican flags as there were Celtics banners. That tells you everything you need to know about what he means to people.
The Financial Side of Longevity
Let’s talk money for a second because it’s honestly staggering. By the time his current contract with the Warriors ends, Al Horford will have earned over $290 million in career salary.
That’s more than some Hall of Fame legends made in their entire lives.
🔗 Read more: Jake Paul Mike Tyson Tattoo: What Most People Get Wrong
He managed this because he never became a "liability." In the NBA, once you become a liability on one end of the floor, you're gone. If you can't shoot, teams leave you open. If you can't guard, teams hunt you on every possession. Horford’s ability to remain a "plus" player on both ends into his late 30s is a blueprint for every young big man coming into the league today.
Actionable Takeaways for Basketball Fans
If you want to truly appreciate what Al Horford brings to the table in 2026, stop looking at the box score. Instead, try these things next time you watch a Warriors game:
- Watch him off the ball: Notice how he directs traffic on defense even when his man isn't involved in the play.
- Check the screens: He is a master of the "marginal" play—screens that don't show up in stats but create 5 feet of space for shooters.
- Look at his feet: See how he uses angles to stay in front of quicker players. It's a masterclass in defensive geometry.
Al Horford might not be the "sun" of a team anymore, but he’s the most important planet in the orbit. He’s proven that you don't have to be the fastest or the highest jumper to dominate the league for two decades. You just have to be the smartest person on the floor.
As he approaches 40, the retirement talks will only get louder. He has a player option for the 2026-27 season worth about $5.9 million. Whether he takes it or decides to hang it up, his spot in the Hall of Fame feels like a lock. He’s won at every level—two NCAA titles, an NBA ring, and five All-Star nods. Not bad for a kid from Puerto Plata.
To track his final chapters, keep a close eye on his shooting splits in high-leverage fourth-quarter situations. That is where "The Godfather" still earns his paycheck. Observe how the Warriors' defensive rating fluctuates when he's on versus off the floor; it's the truest measure of his remaining value. Follow the injury reports closely, as his availability in the post-season will likely dictate if the Warriors can make one last deep run with this veteran core.