On Tuesday morning, Boston Celtics fans found out that Jeff Van Gundy is leaving his consulting role.
But later that day, Wyc Grousbeck shared some good news: one of their top players will return for the 2024-25 season.
Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck confirms that Al Horford will be returning to the Celtics next season!
— The Greg Hill Show (@TheGregHillShow)
“Al (Horford) is coming back for next year. That’s what I’ve been told. Age 38, which is unbelievable,” said Grousbeck. “We’ve got some guys who are getting up there a little bit, but basically, we’re a young team. Most of our players are 30 or younger and that is bad news for everybody else hopefully.”
Horford just wrapped up his 17th season and has played in over 1,200 games including playoffs. Before Monday, he was second only to Karl Malone in most games played without a championship. Even at nearly 40 years old, Horford continues to perform at a high level.
Horford’s Role and Performance:
This past winter, Horford gave up his starting position as Kristaps Porzingis joined the team for his first season in Boston. But when Porzingis got injured during the playoffs, Horford stepped back into the starting lineup and delivered big performances.
Porzingis hurt his right calf during Game 4 against Miami Heat in the first round of playoffs and missed over a month of action. During this time covering ten games—including rounds against Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers—Horford was key on the court.
Fans might think it’s amazing how well he still plays despite his age!
In those crucial moments with Porzingis out, Horford averaged 12.8 points and grabbed 7.3 rebounds per game during their sweep of the Pacers in Eastern Conference Finals. In NBA Finals across five games he averaged 7 points with solid shooting stats: hitting three-pointers at an impressive rate (13-of-25).
Though not putting up double-doubles like before, Horford remains vital to Celtics’ success.
What do you think about Al Horford’s return? Share your thoughts!
