NBA offseason moves are often unpredictable. This offseason, former icons have rejoined their past organization, and beloved players have left for a new team. In the Warriors’ case, their biggest offseason move is a classic tale of former rivals becoming teammates.
A former foe of Jimmy Butler and the Warriors, Al Horford will join the Dubs on a multi-year contract.
The five-time All-Star faced many battles with Butler during his second stint with Boston and Butler’s tenure with Miami. But now, they will join forces to help try and bring another NBA championship to the Bay Area.
Competitive History
The Celtics’ rivalry with the Heat began long before Jimmy Butler’s tenure in Miami. But with the heightened stakes of both franchises’ stars vying for their first title, their matches felt ultra competitive.
The Al Horford Celtics and Jimmy Butler Heat met three times in the playoffs: 2020, 2022, and 2023. The Miami Heat came out on top in two of those three series’ matchups. Each advanced to the NBA Finals in the years they conquered one another, but ultimately came up short.
Horford, however, completed his mission, winning an NBA championship with Boston in 2024 — something Butler has yet to accomplish.
Those matchups featured two teams that went blow for blow for several years. The matchups were also the inception of individual player rivalries.
In Game 1 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, Al Horford hit a three with 4:07 in the second quarter to extend the Celtics’ lead. He then taunted the Heat bench by making a timeout gesture, indicating that Miami needed to regroup after finding themselves in a hole.
Not only would the Heat come back from the double-digit deficit and steal Game 1 on the road, but Butler returned the gesture in Game 3.
After Gabe Vincent connected on a pull-up three to put the Heat up 23 points in the third quarter, Butler moonwalked to half court and knelt. He made sure the Celtics saw his hand motions and fired Horford’s timeout taunt right back at him.
The series involved heated moments between Butler and former Celtics forward Grant Williams, too, with Butler getting the best of him during that run.
In 2022, the Warriors joined the Celtics’ club of rivals when they defeated them in six games during the Finals. After the Celtics lost, Horford’s sister, Anna, expressed her disappointment by backhandedly congratulating the Warriors.
Turning the Page
Horford comes to the Warriors as a trusted veteran in the league, a beloved teammate, and an NBA champion. Regardless of the shared histories, his new teammates respect and appreciate what he has accomplished.
This is particularly true for Butler, who heaped praise on the Horford during media day.
“He’s won it (the championship), which I really, really, really respect. He’s been in this league for a long time for a reason. [Horford is an] elite defender, can make shots, plays basketball the right way; super smart, and more than anything, he wins,” Butler commended.
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During Golden State media day, Horford’s contract had yet to be finalized due to the holding pattern between the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga; therefore, players were not allowed to address the acquisition. Because of this, Butler avoided mentioning Horford by name and only referred to the idea of playing with him in the hypothetical sense.
Nonetheless, Butler’s assessment of the 39-year-old is accurate. Horford’s IQ and two-way play have kept him in the league for 18 years and allowed him to prosper.
His longevity is especially impressive given that the league’s playing style has drastically evolved in the last two decades. As the league continued to evolve, so did his game.
Horford came into the league as an interior player, but adjusted his skillset to become a proficient three-point shooter. The second slide below shows the exponential growth of his three-point shot diet beginning in the 2014-15 season.
Horford’s shooting ability will create more space for his teammates to operate and get off easier looks. On top of that, his taller frame helps ease the burden of Green at the center position, especially in the wake of Kevon Looney‘s departure.
Green has shouldered the load of playing in the five spot much more in the last few years. With Horford’s arrival, Green will likely be slotted back into his more natural role at power forward.
Missing Piece
The Warriors desperately needed shooting and size. While age is still a primary concern for a team that boasts one of the oldest rosters, a 6-foot-9 floor spacer who can defend will offer versatility in Steve Kerr’s lineups.
Any initial awkwardness that could arise will be subdued once the team gets down to business. The squad is full of professionals who know how to set aside past competition to achieve the pinnacle together.
At this stage of the veterans’ careers, the window for championship contention is slowly closing. They must hit the ground running to ensure a strong start and avoid a fight for a playoff spot down the line.
Horford may not be a franchise superstar at this stage, but he may just be the Warriors’ missing puzzle piece.
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