Dwight Howard delivers heartfelt reaction to Golden State Warriors move for Al Horford

After news broke about Al Horford’s move to the Golden State Warriors, Howard took to social media to share his thoughts.

“Al Horford inspiring me man! Same high school class and he is still going,” Howard posted on X.

The two are both 39, but Howard got his NBA start before Horford.

While Howard made the jump straight from high school in 2004, Horford played college ball before turning pro.

Although Horford did not reach the same individual heights as Howard, his ability to stay effective and relevant in the league for so long has set him apart in a different way.

The upcoming season with the Golden State Warriors will be Horford’s 19th in the NBA.

Al Horford’s adaptability contrasts with Dwight Howard’s traditional approach

Horford has managed to stay relevant for so long partly because of how he adapted his game over the years.

He added a three-point shot to his skillset back in 2015-16, evolving into more of a stretch-big compared to where he started.

Statistically, Horford now ranks fourth all-time among centres in three-pointers made with 877, sitting just behind Karl-Anthony Towns, Brook Lopez and Nikola Vučević on that list.

Howard, meanwhile, never really developed an outside shot or the kind of playmaking skills that are valued today. His strengths always leaned more toward physical presence inside the paint.

As NBA offences shifted towards pace-and-space systems and pick-and-roll schemes, Howard’s defensive focus near the rim became less effective against quicker guard play.