If LeBron James taught the NBA anything, it’s that sciatica is a brutal beast, and the Golden State Warriors are now living that nightmare with their veteran big man, Al Horford.
Al Horford’s Final Status vs Blazers Shouldn’t Surprise Warriors Fans
The offseason acquisition has been out of action for two grueling weeks, battling a nagging sciatica flare-up that’s derailed his season. The 2024 NBA champion finally dropped a grim update on his recovery and potential return timeline—one that’s far from ideal for the reeling Warriors squad desperate for reinforcements.
“Probably a week,” Horford revealed about his comeback, per Nick Friedell of The Athletic. “Just cause nerves are different than muscle injuries. In the past, I’ve been able to push through different kinds of injuries like that, but this is just a little different.”
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At 39 years old, Horford has suited up for just 13 games this year with Golden State, falling short of expectations with underwhelming averages of 5.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and two assists on a dismal 32.1% from the field and 29.8% from beyond the arc.
While the Warriors won’t see Horford back in the lineup for at least a few more games, there’s a sliver of hope: the big man has returned to practice.
“I feel good,” he shared ahead of the team’s clash with the Phoenix Suns. “Just excited to be on the court and just getting my body going again.”
From day one, Golden State knew the aging Horford wouldn’t handle back-to-backs for the remainder of his career, but his availability has been even more sporadic as he grapples with this back issue. Horford pinpointed the December 4th showdown against the Philadelphia 76ers as the moment the nerve pain hit hard.
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“That game, that’s where I started to feel—it didn’t feel right towards the end of the game,” Horford explained. “That’s when I kind of regressed considerably, so the medical team is obviously trying to protect me, and they understood that I needed to get right.”
Echoing LeBron’s months-long absence with the Lakers due to a similar issue, Horford’s case—while possibly less severe—raises red flags for an already veteran-heavy, injury-plagued Bay Area roster. A one-week timeline could see him return for the high-stakes Christmas Day battle against the Dallas Mavericks.
Adding to the injury woes, Seth Curry is the latest to hit the report, listed as day-to-day with a thigh issue.
As the Warriors grapple with veteran injuries, turnover plagues, and mounting uncertainty, trade rumors are swirling like a storm. Jonathan Kuminga finds himself at the epicenter, especially after head coach Steve Kerr benched him for over a week despite his summer extension. Tensions have boiled over, and it’s all but certain Kuminga will be shipped out by the February trade deadline.
Even more tantalizing for Dub Nation? Whispers of a Klay Thompson reunion with the Mavericks. Amid Dallas’s shaky outlook, the four-time champ has been linked back to his former squad.
“Those around Thompson say they believe it could eventually happen because ‘there’s no one that carries more weight with Klay than Steph,’ one league source said,” Anthony Slater reported for ESPN. “But Curry would have to push for it.”
Despite the rocky split and Thompson’s dip in form, a homecoming with Curry, Draymond Green, and Kerr would ignite Warriors fans—even if it leans into their aging, banged-up core. No matter what, Thompson’s legacy in Golden State remains untouchable.