The Golden State Warriors’ sideline could look wildly different next season, starting with head coach Steve Kerr and stretching all the way to the group of reserves on the end of the bench.
Golden State came up one win short of a playoff appearance during an injury-marred campaign in 2025-26. Meanwhile Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green all have one year remaining on their contracts (Green’s is a player option). All three of them are currently playing in their late 30s.
The rest of the roster is replete with aged veterans, including center Al Horford. A newcomer to the Bay Area last fall, Horford turns 40 years old in June . He has a $6 million player option on his deal in Golden State for 2026-27 and said this week that he is unsure of his plans moving forward .
“I think that, for me, it has to do with not rushing to anything or not let emotions or the heat of the moment determine anything,” Horford said Monday, per Nick Friedell of The Athletic . “I just think I’ve done this the last few years, and it’s just kind of taken time to step back and have a clear picture, look at the outlook of the team, looking at the future of the team, how things look, and also seeing kind of where I’m at and how I’m feeling.”
Al Horford Battled Injuries in Age-39 Season
Horford won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2024 after losing in the NBA Finals to the Warriors two years prior.
Injuries marred his first year in Golden State, holding him out of all but 45 regular-season games and impacting his ability to find his personal rhythm and establish his role as a key rotation member of the roster . He missed 37 games at various points of the season with a variety of ailments, from foot and toe soreness to sciatic nerve discomfort to a strained calf .
That said, Horford played 22 minutes in the team’s opening play-in tournament game against the Los Angeles Clippers last week. He scored 14 points and made 4-of-7 attempts from behind the 3-point line, including multiple huge buckets from deep down the stretch in the Dubs’ fourth-quarter comeback win .
The stretch big man averaged 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 blocks in 21.5 minutes per night for Golden State last season . He also connected on 36.1 percent of his 4.6 tries from behind the arc per game .
Stephen Curry gives thumbs up during Golden State Warriors game ahead of must-win play-in matchup vs Phoenix Suns
Al Horford’s Game Fits Well in Reserve Role Alongside Steph Curry
Friedell noted that Horford was a “trusted voice” and “popular teammate” in the Dubs’ locker room almost immediately . He was an unofficial adviser to young centers Charles Bassey and Quentin Post .
Furthermore, his game (in a more limited role now) fits well with Curry on both sides of the floor, who remains the focal point of the Warriors’ offense and stated publicly after the team’s season ended one win shy of the playoffs that he is interested in signing a contract extension and playing multiple more years with Golden State.
As a “stretch 5,” Horford’s ability to space the floor is a perfect complement to Curry’s driving and playmaking. His most visible highlight of the season came in the play-in tournament when he drained four triples in the fourth quarter, spurring a comeback win over the Clippers .
Retirement Is a Real Possibility
When asked directly whether hanging up his sneakers is on the table, Horford didn’t shy away.
“Yeah, definitely that’s been on my mind,” he said . “I enjoy playing and being in this position. Definitely taking all that stuff into consideration.”
Horford, who turns 40 on June 3, is one of the oldest active players in the league alongside LeBron James . He has 197 postseason games on his résumé; among active players, only James has more .
“Fortunately for me, I’m healthy,” Horford said. “I feel good. I still feel like I can contribute and play at a very high level still. Those are all things that I’m going to look at. Now that everything kind of gets quiet, you know, it’s something that I’ll reflect on all that” .
The Family Factor
Horford emphasized that his decision will not be made in haste. He plans to discuss his future with his wife, Amelia, and take into account how his family has settled in the Bay Area .
“I felt like it was a nice opportunity and a challenge to be here and to play with some of these great players and this great franchise,” Horford said. “That’s the reality of being here” .
He noted that Golden State’s competitive outlook next season will factor heavily into his choice .
What Horford’s Decision Means for the Warriors
If Horford opts out, whether to retire or join another franchise, the Warriors will miss a player who can help their frontcourt and a man with the knowledge of an assistant coach .
If Horford opts in, the Warriors likely will welcome him back in much of the same capacity as last season.
For now, Horford will take the next couple of weeks to decompress and reflect. The 19-year veteran has earned the right to take his time.
“It has to do with not rushing to anything or not let emotions or the heat of the moment determine anything,” Horford reiterated .
The Warriors’ offseason is already filled with uncertainty. Steve Kerr’s future is up in the air. The core is aging. And now, one of their most reliable veterans is weighing whether to walk away.
For Horford, the decision is deeply personal. For the Warriors, it is another variable in a summer that will define the next chapter of the franchise.
“I still feel like I can contribute and play at a very high level,” Horford said. But whether that contribution comes in a Warriors uniform remains to be seen .