Former Florida center Al Horford commits to multi-year deal with Golden State

The lengthy NBA playing career of former Florida Gators center Al Horford will continue for a 19th season. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Horford has committed to a multi-year deal with the Golden State Warriors after spending the last seven of his nine professional years with the Boston Celtics. Charania also adds that Horford has only verbally committed to the Warriors as of Sunday. The two sides are working through the final financial terms.

Horford recently won an NBA title with Boston

Former Gators big Al Horford spent the past five seasons with the Boston Celtics. He was the starting center during Boston’s Championship winning season in 2024. He heads out west to join a Warriors team, and brings experience and size to a team looking to make a run at another championship of their own with Stephen Curry not getting any younger. Along with paring Horford with Curry, he joins a Golden State squad with standout players like Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.

Horford’s shooting efficiency slid this past season compared to what he was able to contribute in that 2024 NBA title season. However, he continued to produce. In the 42 out of 60 games Horford started last season, he averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 combined steals and blocks in 27.7 minutes per game. Even at the age of 39, Horford was a key contributor this past season for a Boston team that won 61 games, finished in the top five in the NBA in offensive and defensive efficiency.

Horford’s 2024 NBA title is the only one that he’s won as a professional, but he’s a 5-time NBA All-Star. Over the course of his NBA career, Horford averages of 12.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across 31.6 minutes per game. Horford has shot 50.9 percent from the field, 37.7 percent from three-point range, and 76.3 percent from the free throw line. Defensively, he’s averaged 0.8 steals and 1.1 blocks per contest.

Al Horford was a standout in his Florida Gators playing days

Before his lengthy professional career, Horford made his mark in Gainesville as one of the cornerstones of Billy Donovan’s back-to-back National Championship teams. From 2004–07, the 6-foot-10 center was a steady force in the paint, averaging 10.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks across three seasons with the Gators. His sophomore year was a breakout, as he helped lead Florida to its first NCAA title in program history, then followed it up by playing an even bigger role during the repeat run in 2007.

Horford’s blend of defense, rebounding, and leadership set the tone for a Florida roster that included Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, and Taurean Green. He left UF after his junior season as a two-time NCAA Champion, a second-team All-SEC selection, and one of the most reliable big men in college basketball before heading to the NBA as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 Draft.