In a comprehensive end‑of‑season interview, veteran NBA center Al Horford reviews his first year with the Golden State Warriors. He describes the 2025‑26 campaign as a learning experience marked by personal growth but hampered by injuries and the team’s inability to meet its championship aspirations. Horford praises head coach Steve Kerr, calling the experience "very positive" and a chance to absorb a legendary coach’s mindset. He emphasizes his role as a mentor, offering perspective and advice to younger teammates and staying accessible for their questions. When asked about his future, Horford says he is not rushing a decision, weighing health, family, the Warriors’ outlook, and his desire to continue contributing at a high level. He reflects on his earlier departure from Boston, explaining that his faith and personal values guided that move, and he frames his current choices similarly. Highlighting a memorable play‑in win over the Clippers, Horford notes that moments like hitting four threes in Los Angeles reinforced his confidence. He concludes by reaffirming his goal to contend for a championship, acknowledging the team fell short but leaving the door open for another season.
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Hey, Al. Hey, what's up?
What's up?
How's it going with you?
Just how would you assess how the season went for you, just putting the injuries and everything that's happened, that happened with the team?
Yeah, I felt like it was, you know, a good season for me. Learning experience, being in a new environment and seeing things in different ways. But I think it was, It was good in that sense. You know, obviously not pleased with, you know, with some of the injuries and missing some of the games and obviously everything that happened with our group. As a team, you know, we didn't accomplish or achieve what we wanted to. So that wasn't it, but individually I felt like it was good for me. It was, you know, I feel like I'm still, you know, growing and developing. So that was positive, and I felt like it was a positive step for me basketball-wise.
Al, you didn't need to come here. You were an accomplished NBA player way before you even got here. What brought you here and why? I mean, I assume you probably want to keep going, but what do you stand on that?
Yeah, you know, I— You know, I felt like it was a nice opportunity and a challenge, you know, to be here and to play with some of these, you know, these great players in this great franchise. That's the reality of being here. And for me, you know, these next few, about this week, week, week and a half, I'll be, you know, Speaking with, you know, with Amelia and just thinking about everything and seeing kind of what we're going to do, you know, with our future. So that's kind of where we're at.
So you're not decided yet what you want to do?
Not yet, no.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
How much do you like it here?
We really like it here. Yeah, yeah, we like it. Steve's future is obviously uncertain right now. Just what has your experience been with him this season? Just having him as your coach and what have you kind of gotten from that? It's been a very positive experience for me. You know, Steve, you know, just such a legendary coach already in his own and just getting to see how he operates, how he thinks. It's been a very positive experience. It's been great for me to be able to learn and see those things. So, so it's, it's been a, for me, it's just, just really a big learning experience, just trying to take different things in and just see how, how I can be better and see how he does things and how he, how he's thinking the game and things like that. So, so it's been a very positive experience.
When it comes to your future, what are some of the factors that you and your family might consider in terms of how you want the rest of your career to unfold?
Yeah. I mean, I think that, you know, for me it has to do with not rushing to anything or not let emotions or heat of the moment determine anything. So I just think it's this, I've done this the last few years and it's just kind of taken time to step back and have a clearer picture. Look at, look at, at the outlook of the team, looking at the future of the, of the team, how things look and, and also seeing kind of, you know, where I'm at and how I'm feeling. And, you know, fortunately for me, I'm healthy. I feel good. I still feel like I can contribute and play at a very high level still. So those are all things that, you know, that I'm going to, I'm going to look at and Now that everything kind of gets quiet, you know, it's something that I'll reflect on all that.
Al, to follow up on exactly that, obviously you have a decision with the option, whatever you're going to do next couple of weeks. Is retirement off the table? I mean, are you confident that you'll play somewhere next year?
That's a good question. That's a really good question. Yeah, it's definitely that, that's, you know, been on my mind, but I just, I enjoy, you know, playing and being in this position and definitely taking all that stuff into consideration.
Both Quentin and Charles talked about just how you've kind of, you know, helped them along, the big men. And I remember I asked you a while back, I said, you want to go into coaching? And you were like, nah, I don't think so. But I mean, it seems like you have a lot to offer. And what is it you try to do for the young guys on this team? The young guys that— what kind of advice did you offer those guys?
Yeah, for me, it's really trying to, you know, give them perspective, but also trying to help them, you know, see things and try to help them be, you know, become better players and trying to understand kind of how the league operates and works and things like that. So any chance that I can to, you know, to talk to them or give them advice or tell them different things, that's what I've tried to do, you know, in this season or—
Al Horford.
You know, making sure that I'm always making myself available if they have questions or if they want to talk about the game or experiences of mine. So, always just trying to be mindful to help them. That's just finding a way to, you know, to kind of pay it forward and be there for them.
And those 4 threes that you banged in LA, did that tell you anything about yourself that you didn't already know?
Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, it was rewarding, but something that I guess to answer your question, I think, yes, I think it told me that I have that ability to, you know, to be able to do that. And in that point it was like, you know, I work, you know, so hard to put myself in those positions and, to be able to be in those moments. So when those moments come or at any point, I feel like I'm capable that I can do that. You know, I put in a lot of work, I put in a lot of time, but I'm confident that those displays I could continue to do those types of displays. Hi, Al. What's your favorite moment in this season? My favorite moment in this season, man, I think, you know, there's— I would have to say that a win against the Clippers, you know, going on the road and being in the Play-In and, you know, it wasn't quite playoff basketball, but kind of fighting for your, playoff lives and giving ourselves an opportunity. I felt like our group was so resilient that game. You know, we've already had so much adversity and then being down multiple times and not knowing what was going to happen, but for us to find a way to, to group, band together as a group and figure it out and win the game, it felt very rewarding in a season that, you know, that we were, you know, just kind of, our backs against the wall all year and, you know, bad news after bad news or different things happening and finding a way to still care and try to represent the Warriors in the right way. That, to me, was important. You know, I know that our fans, you know, appreciated that. And I think they understand that, you know, that we didn't— we get every—
We get every—
gave everything we had, you know, you know, for the fans. And we appreciate the fans, you know, in that matter. And I think it showed with, with the way that we played, even, you know, the Phoenix game, obviously we, you know, we lost that. And, but I felt like, you know, we, we were playing hard and we were trying to, to do our best.
Al, obviously when you got here, the hope was that there could be title contention.
Mm-hmm.
Like you mentioned, injuries, 100 things happen. If in the thought process of the next few weeks, there's a reality that that may not happen here, how much would that impact your decision of whatever you decide to do for next year?
Yeah, I don't know. I think, I think the, though those are all things that are fair questions and, And then we'll have to ask and address. But like I said, I like being here. We've, you know, we've gotten acclimated, my family and I, to be here. And those are, you know, those are questions. So all that stuff is going to be going through our minds.
When the Celtics were here, I guess a few months ago at this point, you said that your departure from Boston was about bigger, something bigger than basketball. What did you mean by that?
Yeah, yeah, that's a good que— that's a question that kind of stayed out there kind of open-ended. But what I meant by that was that a lot of the times, you know, when people are making decisions, they're making decisions. There's also the things that you see and the things that kind of make sense for the, for the human eye and the things like that. But the way that I operate and that I've carried my career It's been through my faith. And when I went to Boston, man, that was 10 years ago. So it was 10 years ago. Boston wasn't what it was now. They were in the middle of a team that they just lost to the Hawks. And I was on that Hawks team and we beat them. And there was other places that I could have gone. That would have put me in a better position, but I chose to go to Boston and take that chance. But I took it because, because of my faith, because that was the place for me that I felt that I, that was that I needed to be. And then when all of this happened, I felt like it was time for me Or I shouldn't say I felt, I knew that it was time for me to move on. Nothing to do with Boston, but again, following my faith, my belief. And I knew that I had to go elsewhere. And when I looked at it, I felt like here was a place for me to be able to do things. And sometimes it's bigger than basketball for me. That's what I meant by that. There are other things that I need to do and accomplish. And that's why that decision was made. It wasn't an easy decision for me to leave Boston because for me, I was very happy there with my family and everything, but I just felt like— I didn't feel like— I knew it was the right time and this was the next challenge and the next step for me. And now I'm here. And it's, it's going to be interesting to see kind of what happens now, but I have to be able to embrace this, this new challenge that I have.
What are some of those things that you wanted to accomplish? And do you feel like you did this year?
Well, I mean, you know, I think time will tell with some of these things, but, you know, I came here to try to contend and try to win a championship. And I don't shy away from that. And I failed helping the team do that. And we failed as a group. But, you know, that's still something that there would be if I decide to come back here and decide to continue to play. It's something that— it's in my sights and something that we would like to accomplish. [SPEAKING SPANISH]
