Why Knicks should bet on Al Horford to complete championship puzzle

As the New York Knicks approach tip-off of the 2025-26 NBA season, they face big questions. With a few roster spots still open and championship expectations rising, one veteran name keeps coming up: Al Horford. Could he be the piece that turns good into great?

The offseason picture

According to ESPN, the Knicks began the offseason with approximately $200 million in salary committed and four roster spots available, sitting about $3.8 million over the first apron and $8 million below the second apron. This means each veteran addition must deliver more than scoring. It must bring leadership, defense and reliability. In recent moves, New York re-signed Landry Shamet and added Malcolm Brogdon, both on one-year deals, reinforcing its preference for short-term veteran depth (ESPN transactions).

Why Al Horford fits

Horford brings more than raw numbers. He offers playoff toughness, veteran instincts and defensive steadiness.

Per NBA.com, Horford averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists during the 2024-25 regular season. His stat line does not dominate, but it reflects reliability. In Boston’s 2024 championship playoff run, StatMuse tracked Horford with a defensive rating of 107.8, meaning opponents scored only 107.8 points per 100 possessions when he was on the court. He also averaged 9.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks across 30.3 minutes per game. Those are high-leverage contributions in defense, rebounding and multi-positional awareness.

Boston leaned on him heavily when matchups tilted unfavorably. His ability to switch, protect the paint and communicate defensive rotations helped stabilize the team during pressure moments. That impact translated directly into their 2024 championship banner.

What Knicks gain with Horford

• Support for Karl-Anthony Towns: Towns provides elite offense but has had stretches of defensive inconsistency. Horford could step in when opponents exploit those weaknesses, keeping the interior organized and steadying the team when Towns is off the floor.
  
  
• Matchup control and paint presence: The Knicks already employ rim protectors like Mitchell Robinson and versatile defenders such as OG Anunoby. Yet breakdowns in pick-and-roll and switch situations cost them last season. Horford’s defensive IQ fills that gap.
  
  
• Veteran leadership with championship pedigree: According to Basketball-Reference, Horford has logged over 170 career playoff games. That experience, layered onto a roster full of stars and role players, gives the Knicks a steady voice for postseason intensity.
  
  

Risks and realism

Horford is no longer the player who dominated with Atlanta or even in his earlier Boston years. His athleticism is limited, his minutes managed carefully and his scoring ceiling lower than that of younger bigs. Yet, New York’s challenge last season was not a lack of scorers. It was consistency and composure when games tightened. Horford’s profile addresses those exact gaps.

If the Knicks use one of their remaining roster spots on Horford, they would be signaling something important. Championships are decided not only by stars, but also by veterans who win the margins. For a team that came up short on those margins last spring, Horford’s presence could be the kind of difference that only becomes clear once the postseason begins.