The Golden State Warriors are poised to welcome back Al Horford for their high-profile Christmas Day showdown against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. Head coach Steve Kerr has indicated that the seasoned center is expected to suit up after sitting out 10 of the last 11 games with sciatic irritation.
Horford’s return comes at a pivotal moment for a Warriors squad that’s riding a wave of momentum with consecutive victories. Now, Kerr and his staff face a clear decision on how to reintegrate the 39-year-old veteran, balancing his role while carefully managing his workload for the long haul.
Shifting Horford to More Power Forward Minutes Could Unlock His Potential
Signed as the veteran stretch-five the Warriors sorely lacked, the five-time All-Star’s early-season contributions have fallen short of expectations. Horford is posting career lows of 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, with shooting splits of just 32.1% from the field and 29.8% from beyond the arc.
Increased lineup stability might naturally boost those figures, especially after Horford was held out of several early games amid a grueling back-to-back schedule. However, a strategic tweak could accelerate his turnaround and ease the physical toll on the aging star.
Per Basketball Reference data, Horford has logged 98% of his minutes at center this season—a sharp increase from 40% last year and 49% the season prior during his time with the Boston Celtics, where he shared the frontcourt with Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet.
Embracing more double-big configurations could lighten Horford’s defensive responsibilities and enhance his offensive efficiency. To date, he’s shared the floor with Quinten Post for only 10 minutes and with Trayce Jackson-Davis for a mere five.
In Horford’s absence, these young centers have stepped up admirably. Post has emerged as the interim starter, boasting the league’s fifth-best defensive rating and topping the Warriors in plus-minus. Meanwhile, Jackson-Davis has contributed to a +13.0 net rating over the team’s last seven outings.
Instead of sidelining Post or Jackson-Davis, the Warriors could explore dual-big pairings under Kerr’s guidance. It’s a straightforward experiment worth pursuing, particularly to safeguard against recurring injury issues.
This approach would also clarify the center hierarchy and inform potential front-office moves, especially amid recent reports of interest in acquiring another big man via trade. With the stakes elevated on Christmas Day, Horford’s leadership and savvy could prove transformative—if deployed wisely.