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- Jun 17, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) celebrates with the Larry O’Brien Trophy after beating the Dallas Mavericks in game five of the 2024 NBA Finals to win the NBA Championship at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Al Horford’s Debut Silences Doubters, Ignites Warriors’ 2025 Championship Hopes

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By David Desa | Last updated Oct 6, 2025 1:17 PM ET

The air in the Chase Center was thick with a familiar preseason energy as newly acquired Al Horford and the Golden State Warriors faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers. Stephen Curry was, well, Stephen Curry—a human highlight reel doing things only he can. Draymond Green orchestrated the floor with his usual gruff brilliance. We’ve seen this show before. It’s a timeless classic, a masterclass in basketball chemistry.

But tonight, something was different. A new, yet seasoned, presence graced the hardwood wearing number 20. Al Horford, the venerable big man fresh from Boston, was making his Warriors debut, and the collective breath of Dub Nation was held in anticipation. The questions had been swirling for weeks. At 39, what did he have left in the tank? Could he truly be the missing piece to another championship puzzle?

In just 14 minutes of game time, Al Horford didn’t just answer those questions; he obliterated them. His performance was a powerful declaration, a statement that experience, intelligence, and sheer will can defy the relentless march of time.

The Immediate Impact of a Seasoned Veteran

Let’s be clear: the box score won’t blow you away. Three points, four rebounds, three assists. In the modern, stat-obsessed NBA, those numbers are pedestrian. But to focus on them is to miss the point entirely. It was the three blocks that told the real story. Three times, Lakers players drove to the rim with confidence, and three times they were met by the long arm and perfect timing of Al Horford. The crowd erupted with each rejection, a visceral roar of approval and relief.

For years, the defensive anchor in the paint has been Draymond Green, a warrior forced to play out of position against bigger, stronger centers. You could almost see the weight lifted from his shoulders tonight. With Horford manning the middle, Green was free to roam, to disrupt passing lanes, to be the defensive chess master he is without having to absorb the nightly physical punishment of battling giants.

The synergy was palpable. Horford’s defensive IQ isn’t just about blocking shots; it’s about positioning, about deterring drives before they even happen. He was a plus-13 in his short time on the floor, a number that speaks volumes about his subtle, yet profound, influence on the game’s flow.

Igniting the Warriors’ Offense

On the offensive end, the early signs were just as tantalizing. Al Horford has never been a primary scorer, but his genius lies in making everyone around him better. He’s a connector, a high-post maestro who understands spacing and timing on a cellular level.

There was one play that perfectly encapsulated what he brings to this offense. Catching the ball on the left wing, he didn’t hesitate. With a quick, decisive pass, he found a cutting Stephen Curry slicing through the lane for a tough layup. It was a simple play, executed with the kind of telepathic understanding that usually takes months to develop. That’s the Al Horford effect. He knows where Curry wants the ball before Curry himself does.

He stretched the floor, drew defenders out of the paint, and set bone-jarring screens that freed up the Warriors’ shooters. He may not have the flashy playmaking of Draymond, but his steady, intelligent presence provides a different, equally vital, offensive dimension. He is the ultimate basketball glue guy, and tonight, he showed just how well he binds this team together.

While it’s just one preseason game—a small, tantalizing glimpse of what’s to come—the feeling is undeniable. This wasn’t just a successful debut; it was a validation. The front office signed Al Horford to fill specific, glaring holes, and he proved he is more than capable of doing just that.

The road ahead is long. Managing the minutes of an aging core will be the coaching staff’s greatest challenge. Health will be the ultimate arbiter of this team’s destiny. But for one night, the doubts were silenced. Al Horford wasn’t just a new addition; he felt like the final piece. And for a franchise with championship aspirations, that feeling is everything. The Warriors got their guy, and fans have every right to be excited.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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