The Warriors’ rumored interest in Al Horford was reportedly confirmed after sources claimed that they have agreed on a handshake deal with the former Celtics veteran to join Golden State.
Following this, Stephen Curry, the Warriors superstar, was asked about Al Horford during the 36th Annual American Century Championship, and his response seemed to indicate that the wheels are in motion for the Warriors to acquire the veteran from the free agency market.
“He’s a champion, great player. When… if, when all that stuff happens, I’ll talk about it.”
Seems like it is no longer a question of ‘if’ but rather ‘when’. Curry praised the former NBA champion but refused to delve deeper into his feelings about him until the deal is officially done.
Just moments before answering this question, Curry was asked how long he plans to play in the NBA, i.e, when he plans to retire from the NBA. He seemed unsure of the timeline but said that he is deciding based on two-year spans.
“I don’t know. I’m just taking it two years at a time. That’s what I have left on my contract right now.”
Curry is currently on the Warriors’ payroll until the end of the 2027 season. He signed a one-year extension worth $62.6 million and is now expected to stay with the Warriors for at least two more seasons.
At this stage in his career, Curry’s most probable primary factor for consideration in deciding whether to retire is whether he can still compete for a championship with the Warriors. The potentially confirmed signing of Al Horford may have just bolstered their chances.
Analyzing Warriors’ Championship Hopes With Stephen Curry And Al Horford
If Horford is officially confirmed soon as a Warrior, he will be replacing Kevon Looney’s absence on the roster, but as a small-ball center. The 6’9 veteran averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game for the Celtics last season and can stretch the floor to create spacing for the Warriors.
Horford shot 42.3% from the field and 36.3% from range last season, but also had back-to-back seasons before the last one where he shot over 40% from range as well. Therefore, his scoring threat also adds a burden on defenses that Looney just couldn’t do.
Last season (2024-25), the Warriors were eliminated in the second round against the Timberwolves after losing Curry to an injury in Game 1 of their series. They were arguably in a position to threaten a Finals run if Curry was not injured.
Therefore, Curry may still feel that this roster, with the core of Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, can compete for a championship. With the likely addition of Horford’s veteran experience to this team, the Warriors are once again among the favorites in the West to reach the Playoffs at least.
This beckons the unanswered question that now plagues Curry’s career: When is it the right time for him to hang up his boots? The answer that Warriors fans are likely hoping for is never. But it is important to note that Curry will be 38 years old at the end of his current contract with the Warriors.
Since he’s arguably been the best player in Warriors history, Curry no longer has anything to prove to anyone but himself. Curry has averaged 24.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game for his four championships in his career. Do you think Curry still needs to push himself to win another championship? Or should he hang up his boots and embrace Father Time? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
