Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics
Al Horford Isn’t Done Yet: Celtics Veteran Center Wants to Keep Playing Beyond 2024 Title Run
Al Horford may be nearing 40, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down—or walking away from basketball.
Fresh off helping the Boston Celtics win the 2024 NBA championship, the 38-year-old big man made it clear in a conversation with Heavy Sports’ Steve Bulpett: retirement isn’t in his plans just yet.
“I’m still very hungry, very driven, so I want to continue to play,” Horford said. “I mean, I feel good… I love it. So, yeah, I want to keep playing. This is good.”
Even with 18 seasons of mileage and more than 1,000 career games under his belt, Horford has carved out a valuable role in Boston’s rotation. While he’s no longer the All-Star caliber force from his early years, he continues to provide veteran leadership, tough defense, and floor spacing—all essential ingredients in the Celtics’ 2024 title recipe.
In the postseason, Horford averaged 9.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting an efficient 47.8% from the field and 36.8% from beyond the arc. With Kristaps Porziņģis battling injuries at times during the playoffs, Horford stepped up and delivered meaningful minutes in key situations, showcasing his still-reliable two-way game.
Horford is in the final year of his two-year, $19 million deal and will hit unrestricted free agency this summer. While it’s clear he wants to return, there hasn’t been any formal discussion about a new contract—yet.
“Not really,” he told Bulpett when asked about negotiations. “My whole thing was I don’t want this to be even a topic. You know, we’re locked in on what we’re supposed to do now, and that’s kind of that.”
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That mentality has served Horford well throughout his time in Boston, which now spans 464 games and multiple playoff runs. He’s averaged 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in a Celtics uniform, and perhaps more importantly, earned the trust of the locker room and coaching staff alike.
As Boston looks to defend its championship and chase rare back-to-back titles, keeping Horford around—both for what he provides on the court and in the locker room—could be a valuable part of that equation. He’ll have suitors in free agency, but Boston knows better than most what kind of impact the veteran center still brings, even in Year 19.
For now, one thing is clear: Al Horford isn’t done. Not yet.
