Al Horford Reaches Two-Year Extension With Boston Celtics

Al Horford with Boston Celtics in 2017
Al Horford with Boston Celtics in 2017. Image by Keith Allison on Wikipedia

Al Horford has agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Boston Celtics, his agent Jason Glushon of Glushon Sports Management confirmed on Thursday. The $20 million extension will begin in the 2023-24 season.

Currently, the Celtics center is in the final year of a four-year, $109 million contract. By approaching Horford with this extension, Boston is preventing a repeat of what happened in 2019, when Horford left the team for a more lucrative free agency offer.

In what is now his second tenure with the Celtics, Horford has revived his career. He contested 437 shots in the NBA playoffs in 2022; the most in the league. He is also one of five players to contest 400 shots or more since tracking began over a decade ago.

A five-time All-Star, Horford is averaging 10.9 points and 6.3 rebounds in 31 minutes a game this season. His importance in the Celtics’ attacking lineup has been amplified following the injury of starting center Robert Williams III. Currently, Horford has the third-highest shooting percentage among centers, with 55.5% from the floor and 48.8% on three-pointers.

The number three overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Horford spent nine seasons at the Atlanta Hawks before joining Boston in 2016 on free agency. He then joined Philadelphia in 2019 before spending a season at Oklahoma City and then rejoining the Celtics in 2021.