Celtics Get Blunt Update on Al Horford's Departure

Al Horford faced his former team for the first time since leaving Boston last summer, providing new context to his decision.

Feb. 28, 2026 at 7:15am by Ben Kaplan

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Al Horford, who spent seven seasons with the Boston Celtics across two stints and helped deliver the 2024 championship, faced his former team for the first time since leaving Boston last summer. Before the game, Horford met with reporters and addressed his departure, saying "For me, the decision, it's something that's deeper than just the basketball stuff." Horford praised the Celtics organization and credited the team's development, but his cryptic comments about the reasons behind his departure have left fans eager to hear the full explanation when he's ready to share it.

Why it matters

Horford was a respected figure in Celtics history, and his contributions extended well beyond statistics. His departure last summer was seen as straightforward at the time, but his comments before Thursday's game have added new context and raised questions about the deeper reasons behind his decision to leave Boston.

The details

Horford spent seven seasons with the Celtics across two stints and helped deliver the 2024 championship before signing with the Golden State Warriors in free agency last summer. Before Thursday's game, Horford met with reporters and addressed his departure, saying "For me, the decision, it's something that's deeper than just the basketball stuff." Horford praised the Celtics organization and credited the team's development, but his cryptic comments have left fans eager to hear the full explanation behind his decision.

  • Horford faced his former team for the first time since leaving Boston last summer.

The players

Al Horford

A veteran NBA player who spent seven seasons with the Boston Celtics across two stints, helping the team win the 2024 championship before signing with the Golden State Warriors in free agency last summer.

Jayson Tatum

A star player for the Boston Celtics who suffered an Achilles injury, which reportedly eliminated the franchise's championship window at the time of Horford's departure.

Jrue Holiday

A player the Celtics moved on from around the time of Horford's departure.

Kristaps Porzingis

A player the Celtics moved on from around the time of Horford's departure.

Stephen Curry

A star player for the Golden State Warriors, who Horford joined in free agency.

Draymond Green

A star player for the Golden State Warriors, who Horford joined in free agency.

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What they’re saying

“For me, the decision, it's something that's deeper than just the basketball stuff.”

— Al Horford (heavy.com)

What’s next

The full explanation for Horford's departure from the Celtics will come when he decides the time is right to share it with the public.

The takeaway

Horford's cryptic comments about the deeper reasons behind his decision to leave the Celtics have left fans eager to hear the full story, as he was a respected figure in the organization's history and his contributions extended well beyond statistics.