Al Horford Returns to Warriors for 20th NBA Season

Sport

By lines

June 25, 2026

Al Horford is running it back with the Golden State Warriors. The veteran center will play a 20th NBA season in 2026-27. He declined a $6 million option to sign fresh terms.

Horford Joins an Exclusive 20-Season Club

Horford declined his $6 million player option to re-sign in Golden State. The new deal runs two years and is worth $14 million. The second season carries a player option for Horford. Golden State used Non-Bird rights to keep the 40-year-old big man.

The contract is fully guaranteed and includes a trade kicker. Horford could remain in Golden State through the 2027-28 season. He first joined the Warriors on a multiyear deal in 2025. He returns to a core still led by Stephen Curry.

Horford becomes the 13th player to reach a 20th NBA season. That group includes LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It also features Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett and Vince Carter. Few big men have stayed effective into their 40s the way Horford has.

Horford reaches the milestone after nearly two decades of durability. He has logged deep playoff runs across several franchises. That experience carries weight for a Warriors team eyeing June basketball.

Horford won his first NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 2024. He carried that championship experience to Golden State the next year. He still stretches the floor and switches across multiple positions. His shooting fits a Warriors offense built around constant movement.

Horford has built a reputation as a steady veteran leader. He shifted between starting and bench roles during his Boston years. His three-point shooting opened driving lanes for guards and wings. Golden State values that versatility next to Stephen Curry. The veteran adds proven playoff minutes to the Warriors rotation.

The Warriors enter 2026-27 with their championship core mostly intact. Horford’s deal removes uncertainty about the frontcourt rotation. Curry remains the engine, and Horford gives him a trusted screen partner. The signing signals the team’s intent to compete right away.

The signing keeps Golden State’s veteran frontcourt intact for 2026-27. Horford spaces the floor and defends multiple positions at age 40. His $14 million salary fits the Warriors’ tight cap math. Continuity matters for a roster chasing one more title with Curry.

Free agency opens with Golden State’s rotation taking shape early. Horford’s return answers one of the team’s bigger summer questions. Training camp will reveal his role behind the starters. The Warriors open their next title push when the 2026-27 season tips off.