Boston Celtics guard Al Horford is fresh off winning his first NBA championship, but he plans to lead the team for at least one more season.
After confetti flew during Boston's championship celebration at TD Garden on Monday night, Celtics owner Wyck Grousbeck gave fans even more joy by confirming that Horford will return to the team for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
“Al will be back next year,” Grosbeck said. The Greg Hill Show “That's what I was told. I can't believe he's 38.”
“Ironically, we beat Al's team in 2008,” Grosbeck continued. [Atlanta] “The Hawks took us all the way to No. 7 in the first round. So we were contributing to his drought, but now he's back with us. He loves it here. He and his family love it here. He couldn't be happier. We're happy.”
Celtics owner Wyck Grousbeck has confirmed that Al Horford will return to the Celtics next season. pic.twitter.com/WfTSwxH9bS
— The Greg Hill Show (@TheGregHillShow) June 18, 2024
The 38-year-old Horford won his first championship ring on Monday night in a 106-88 Game 5 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the title-clinching series, ending the NBA's longest playoff winless streak (186 games). James Harden currently holds the active record with 166 games played, while Karl Malone holds the all-time record with 193 games played.
Horford, a five-time All-Star, is set to earn $9.5 million in salary next season, his 18th in the league.
Horford was the backup for Kristaps Porzingis, whom the Celtics acquired in the offseason, during the 2023-24 season, but flourished in the playoffs, averaging 9.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. With Porzingis sidelined with various injuries, Horford started 15 of the 19 playoff games.
Horford is one of the Celtics' most reliable playoff veterans and is also the all-time leader in 3-point shooting percentage in the Finals, per StatMuse.
“My mindset has always been this: As long as my body feels good, that's fine,” Horford said in February about his retirement plans. “I don't want to feel limited. I don't want to be in a position where I'm not myself, so I don't want to put any limitations on myself. That's the only thing I've seen from Tom.” [Brady]”One of the great things I learned from him is, listening to his interviews and stuff, he never put any limitations on when I was going to play and I don't want to limit myself on that.”
