Why did 39-year-old Horford choose the Warriors? He revealed two main reasons and plans to finish his career in Golden State.

Horford never planned to depart from the Boston Celtics. He enjoyed his time there: spanning two periods and a total of seven years with this iconic franchise, his family was well-established in Boston. Yet, Tatum’s Achilles injury drastically transformed the Celtics’ situation — for Horford, this not only rewrote his offseason but also redefined the closing phase of his career.

“I feel that even though I consider Boston my home and have everything I need there, given the Celtics’ situation at the time, they couldn’t offer me the opportunity I was seeking,” Horford said in an interview with The Athletic.

The 39-year-old veteran ultimately chose to sign with the Golden State Warriors in early October instead of returning to the Celtics for another season. Behind this decision, besides Tatum’s potentially career-altering injury, were several crucial factors.

“There are mainly two reasons,” Horford explained, “salary is part of it, but more importantly, it’s about winning — I still want to compete for a championship.”At that time, there were too many uncertainties within the Celtics. It was clear that our visions no longer aligned. Tatum’s injury had a huge impact, so at that point, I had to reconsider staying — before that, I had planned to remain in Boston.”

Horford helped the Celtics win the championship in 2024 and was a “reliable pillar” and “respected role model” both on the court and in the community. After officially signing with the Warriors last week, he openly expressed his deep affection for Boston and said, “The Warriors are the only team that could make me leave the Celtics.” Reflecting on his decision, Horford mentioned that the Celtics’ management’s moves to rebuild after Tatum’s injury were also a factor in his final choice to leave.

“As the offseason progressed, I gradually realized the team’s priorities had shifted,” Horford said. “It was obvious when they traded Holiday and Porzingis. I understood it was about salary space, but it felt like a domino effect, which was hard for me to accept. It was a tough decision, but after praying with my wife, we came to an agreement. I know such a major choice needs family support for us to move forward. That’s how it happened.”

The Warriors convinced Horford to join partly because the team is “well-managed” and also because “there’s still a chance to compete for the championship this season” — making the transfer more natural. Horford believes he fits well with the Warriors’ roster: a mix of top veterans and young players eager to prove themselves. At last week’s signing press conference,Horford revealed that before signing with the Warriors, he had no personal relationship with the team’s core players Curry and Green. But once joining the Warriors became possible, the two stars actively reached out to recruit him.

“Yes, I talked with Curry and Green,” Horford said. “That was important. The process moved quickly — they contacted me saying ‘We really want you here’ and discussed many details. Considering the fit and potential, it felt like the right choice. Their initiative was key.”

In his first two weeks with the Warriors, Horford received continuous praise. Players and coaches alike commended his ability to integrate with the team culture both on and off the court; young players especially value his experience — this will be Horford’s 19th NBA season, and he proactively offers advice and shares career stories. The respect his teammates show him echoes the regard he earned from teammates throughout his career. Through his training performance and attitude, Horford quickly gained the new team’s trust.

As a new member of the Warriors striving to maintain a high standard, Horford is carefully finding his role — observing daily how Curry, Green, and wing Butler train and play, learning from them.

“As a newcomer, I can’t know everything,” Horford said. “I joined with a learning mindset, wanting to understand how they operate and their logic. Over the years, I was their opponent and studied their tactics, so I knew some aspects, but I had no idea what it feels like to be a Warrior. So now, I’m trying to learn quickly — I don’t have much time to waste. We want to do something special this season, so I must adapt fast: to Coach Kerr’s terminology, to my teammates’ preferences and habits, and integrate fully into the system.”

Horford never imagined leaving Boston, but now he hopes San Francisco will be the final stop of his NBA career. He knows anything can happen in the league, but he firmly believes the Warriors will be his last team.

“Yes, that’s how I feel,” Horford said. “At this stage of my career, considering everything, my expectation is to finish here.”