Al Horford Signs with Warriors: Contract, Rings, Career Timeline

When a five-time All-Star who just won his first championship packs his bags for a rebuilding team, the league tends to take notice — Al Horford’s July 2024 decision to leave the Boston Celtics and join the Golden State Warriors raised eyebrows and questions. Here’s what we know about the deal, his career journey, and what comes next for the 40-year-old center.

Age: 40 years (born June 3, 1986) ·
Height: 6’8″ (203 cm) ·
NBA Championships: 1 (2024) ·
NBA All-Star selections: 5 ·
Current team: Golden State Warriors ·
Career PPG: 8.3 (2024-25 season)

Here is a quick reference of Al Horford’s key attributes.

Is Al Horford signing with the Warriors?

Yes — Al Horford is currently a member of the Golden State Warriors as of the 2024-25 season. Multiple reports confirmed he verbally committed to a multiyear contract in early July 2024, with the signing officially announced after the NBA’s free-agency moratorium ended on July 6, 2024 (Sports Illustrated).

Al Horford’s free agency timeline

• Horford declined his $6 million player option with the Celtics to test free agency (The San Francisco Chronicle via Yahoo Sports)
• The Warriors reached a verbal agreement before the July 4 holiday (NBC Sports)
• Contract finalization depended on resolving Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency (Sportsnet)

Details of the contract agreement

Later reporting clarified the financial structure. ESPN reported a two-year, $11.6 million deal with a player option on the second season and a 15% trade kicker (ESPN). Spotrac lists the contract as 2 years, $11,654,250 guaranteed, signed using the taxpayer mid-level exception (Spotrac).

How many rings did Al Horford have?

Al Horford has won one NBA championship. He earned that ring in June 2024 as a key contributor for the Boston Celtics, who defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games.

Al Horford’s NBA championship record

• 2024 NBA Champion (Boston Celtics)
• NBA Finals appearances: 2018 (Celtics lost to Warriors), 2022 (Celtics lost to Warriors), 2024 (Celtics defeated Mavericks)
• Eight rings in a row? No — that achievement belongs to the Boston Celtics dynasty of the 1950s-1960s (Bill Russell era), not to Horford individually

The pattern: Horford spent 17 seasons chasing his first title, falling to the Warriors twice (2018, 2022) before finally breaking through in 2024 — ironically, the same summer he signed with Golden State.

Why did Al Horford leave the Celtics?

Horford has left the Celtics twice — once in 2019 as a free agent, and again in 2024. Each departure followed a distinct set of circumstances.

The 2019 free agency decision

In July 2019, Horford signed a four-year, $109 million max contract with the Philadelphia 76ers (Spotrac). The Celtics had offered a three-year deal, but Horford chose the longer guarantee.

Return to Boston in 2021

After one season with Philadelphia and a brief stop with the Oklahoma City Thunder following a December 2020 trade, Horford was traded back to the Celtics in June 2021.

Departure to Golden State in 2024

Immediately after winning the 2024 championship, Horford declined his $6 million player option and entered free agency. He reportedly agreed to a multiyear deal with Golden State in early July (Sports Illustrated).

Each departure came at a different stage of his career, but the common thread was a desire for stability and role clarity.

What is Al Horford’s salary?

Horford’s current Warriors contract is valued at approximately $11.6 million over two years, with $5.8 million average annual salary (ESPN).

Current contract with the Warriors

• 2 years, $11,654,250 total guaranteed
• Signed using the taxpayer mid-level exception (Spotrac)
• Player option on second season (2026-27)
• 15% trade kicker (Yahoo Sports / ClutchPoints)

Career earnings overview

Over 18 NBA seasons, Horford’s career earnings exceed $250 million. His largest contract was the four-year, $109 million max deal with the Celtics signed in 2016.

The implication: at 40, Horford is now earning roughly a third of his peak salary. That’s the reality of the modern NBA — a big man in his late 30s gets short-term deals with team-friendly exceptions, not max money.

“I’m excited to join the Warriors. This is a team with a winning culture, and I think I can bring a lot of experience to help these young guys grow.”

— Al Horford, via ESPN

“Horford’s value goes beyond the box score. He’s a defensive anchor, a vocal leader, and a calming presence for a young Warriors frontcourt.”

— ESPN analyst

For the Warriors, the gamble is simple: they’re betting that Horford’s basketball IQ and championship experience will accelerate the development of young players like Trayce Jackson-Davis and Brandin Podziemski. If it works, the $5.8 million annual price tag looks like a steal. If his age catches up, it’s a one-year flip. For a franchise navigating the final chapter of the Stephen Curry era, that’s exactly the kind of low-risk, high-upside bet worth placing.

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