In a press‑conference style interview, Warriors forward Al Horford provides an update on his calf strain, expressing optimism about returning before the play‑in tournament. He emphasizes the morale boost that a healthy Stephen Curry would bring, while acknowledging the uncertainty of timelines. Horford reflects on the team's character and potential if key players—Curry, Klay Thompson, and himself—are fully healthy, noting the importance of resilience. He discusses Kristaps Porziņģis’ role and highlights Chris Stapps (likely Chris Paul) as a valuable offensive catalyst, especially in creating advantages and drawing fouls. Horford praises the development of younger players, citing their increased responsibilities and growth during veteran absences. He lauds the Warriors’ medical staff, particularly Rick Celebrini, for genuine care and effective rehabilitation processes. Finally, he commends Draymond Green’s leadership, professionalism, and adaptability throughout the season’s challenges.
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At this point, how do you feel?
Yeah, I'm still not practicing with the team, still individual stuff, but I feel pretty well. You know, I feel like I'm progressing and I'm encouraged by that.
It was a couple weeks ago. What happened?
Yeah, yeah. Did that ever get disclosed? It was just a calf. It's a calf strain. Yeah. Yeah. So it wasn't tight enough. It was, it was a calf strain. So I just couldn't, at that point, couldn't run, couldn't put necessarily so much weight on it. So, yeah, but, you know, it's, it's, we've given it some time. So I feel pretty encouraged where I'm at today to coming back at some point. Yeah, I was just asking, it was like, what, 6, 7 weeks?
Game left. Are you hoping to get a few in before the play-in?
I would like to, absolutely.
Steph, we heard he's in practice today. Sounds like he's scrimmaging right now. How much did that— does that lift this team's spirits, the idea of, you know, maybe you can come back and maybe Steph can come back?
Yeah, no, the fact that if he's able to come back, that's, you know, that's tremendous. You know, when you get a guy like that, we're obviously, you know, in a position that we're fighting for our lives. And as far as the, you know, the playoff setting goes, and it's a great, you know, we feel like we have a really good opportunity and just having him, you know, just available whenever that's going to be, it's going to, it's going to be huge for our group.
Kind of following up on that, how optimistic are you about the playing tournament if Steph's back, if you're back? I mean, there's several players, obviously Steph most prominently, who haven't been playing recently. How does that change sort of the dynamics, I guess?
Yeah, I mean, I think for me, I don't want to think that far ahead. My biggest thing, I know it's coming up, but like my biggest thing is I'm making progress every day. I'm encouraged of where I'm at. And, you know, my hope is to be able to play some games before the play-in and, and when we get there, we get there. But I feel like I've been, you know, having a lot of positive days, you know, all of these days leading up. And, and I feel like that's, that's all I can do right now.
You got 12 more games in the reg— 12 more days in the, in the regular season. Are you able to fully sort of imagine what this team could do if it's fully healthy? When you get to the play-in?
Yeah, I mean, you think about some stuff, but ultimately, you know, my biggest thing, I just, we need to get to that point. You know, I feel like it's just so many different things happening and different injuries to some of our key guys and, You know, and obviously right now I just don't want to, almost don't want to look too far ahead, but I, but to answer your question, I do feel like we have the right character, the right group of guys. So, um, that, that's always going to give you a really good chance.
Sounds like you're keeping your fingers crossed right now.
I'm on the day-to-day right now. I know it's, it's very boring, but, but that's That's what I've been able to do and really focused in on, on this recovery. And then, you know, I'm getting ramped up again to play. And, and, and I am anxious to get out there to play and be there with the guys. I just, I know that I have to follow this path and, and the medical team here, you know, has, has been, has been great to me. Really, really helpful. And I'm just— just, you know, following their lead and really trusting in that.
How do you feel about what you've seen from Chris Stapps? 'Cause he's kind of building some momentum, it looks like.
Yeah. What I see is he's getting more comfortable. He's getting more comfortable. He's starting to understand what he needs to do. Guys on the floor that are playing with him, they're starting to understand what he can do. And it's just great to see. It's just great to see him continuing to play and just gain more confidence. That's, that's important for our group.
You talked about the recovery process right now, and you've kind of had to go through that a couple of times this season. Just how have you kind of managed the ups and downs of that, that can be with that?
Yeah. I mean, I think one of the things is the, you know, that you always have to, you know, look ahead, try to problem solve and just see how you can continue to get better in the position that you're in at the time. Earlier in the season, that was, something that was different. This, I've never dealt with anything like this before. So this has been a learning experience for me and, um, and, and really making sure that, that I do everything that I can to, to get back and not only get back, but be able to be efficient and have an impact when I get back as well.
Following up on Monte's question about Kristaps, I mean, you're familiar with his game, obviously from your time in Boston, but how, how much Does he, do you think, and I realize it's a small sample size, 11 games, sort of fit the needs of this team? Steve talked about the need to create an advantage on offense, which Steph obviously does, Jimmy does, but they're both out. How necessary has Chris Tapps been and how do you think he fits going forward?
No, very necessary. I think Coach Kerr was talking to us today in practice and one of the things that he was saying was we have to make sure You know, you need to have players that have that ability, and Chris Taps can create those advantages and make the game easy for the rest of the guys. So I understand that, I know it, and the way that he can score the ball and the way that just him being out there, let's say at the top of the key, like, you know, you have to be able to defend them. If you're off him, he's shooting the 3, or him being able to post up and making reads or going to score. One of the things that he does really well is drawing fouls. You know, he's just really good at that. So all those things, now that, you know, obviously we're missing Jimmy, that helps our team in a lot of ways.
Hi, Al. As a veteran, you're playing this league so many years. How much important you see the young player can use this time, especially when Jimmy and Steph not on the court, they can have opportunity to grow up?
Yeah, it is, it is great for our young players to, they have been taking advantage of this opportunity because so many of the guys are out and that's forcing them to be in positions that they probably, you know, are not used to. And they're really doing a good job with that. And the prime example, and, you know, I feel like everybody has talked about it, but it's Gee, you know, and then just his ability to be patient, to understand the game, and to know that now we need more of him. So he's able to step in and be in different positions, initiate the offense more, get in the post, attack more, just do different things. And the list goes on with our young guys. So I think this is a really good experience for them. And, you know, hopefully, you know, when Steph comes back and when I'm able to get back and we're, you know, we're fully healthy, I just think that's going to be beneficial. For our group. You mentioned working with, with the medical staff. I think last week Chris Stopps called Rick Celebrini the GOAT. What have you learned about the way that Rick works with players? Uh, yeah. Uh, you know, uh, Rick, uh, he, he really, he really cares, um, about the players. Um, and, and that's something that's, that's really important and you can almost take it for granted, but When you have somebody that genuinely, you know, cares for a person, the players, we feel that, we understand that he wants what's best, you know, for us. So for me, it's been, it's been really nice to be able to work, you know, to work with him and just to learn on how he thinks, how he goes about things, how he prepares everything that we do. And him and just the rest of the medical group that we have here, You know, in the weight room and the PTs, they are amazing. And they all just do a really good job of complementing one another. And it's very clear, you know, when I come in here, what I expect, what I need, and it all starts with him. But I just think that there's a real genuine care factor about him, about the health and the wellbeing of the players.
What have you seen from Draymond this season? As you know, he's kind of been the healthiest of the veterans. And he's seen a lot of y'all in and out of the lineup, and he's had to adjust to, you know, in some ways losing basketball at times. How have you kind of seen him and his just competitiveness navigate that?
Yeah, I mean, always leading by example, setting the tone on the floor on the defensive end, offensively making sure that the ball is moving. He's always diligent. He's been, he's been extremely professional through all the ups and downs and, and it's not deterred by anything that's going on. So that to me, it's been just very impressive how he's been able to handle just everything that has gone on and different things that are being asked of him at different points. He's able to adjust, he's able to do it. And he continues to get it done for us.
Do you Do you at all, at times ever see him have to almost like bite his tongue a little bit? If, you know, if he's maybe trying to like, you know, get on some guys, then he's realizing, you know, these are younger guys, we're not—
Yeah. I mean, I think he has a good balance with that. You know, he understands he has to be patient, you know, at times. And there are other times that he, you know, he'll let, he'll let us know where he's feeling and where he's at. But, but yeah, he's probably, he's balancing that out and you see it. Out there and it's been, you know, he's, you know, he's one of the leaders or the leader of the team and you could see, you know, how he navigates all those dynamics.
