Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens says it is "unlikely" that Al Horford will return to Boston next season.

Al Horford is set to enter his 19th season in the NBA next season. For the last four seasons, he has been playing for the Boston Celtics, where he has achieved great success, including winning the NBA Championship in 2024, the first of his career. Last season with the Celtics, Horford averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors are facing a new threat when it comes to free agent center Al Horford.

Adding Horford would undoubtedly be an upgrade due to his perimeter scoring, positional defense and veteran leadership.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said it’s “highly unlikely” that the 39-year-old center will return to Boston when asked at a Tuesday press conference.

The Boston Celtics may need to get used to a future without veteran forward Al Horford sooner than they would likely want to, according to recent reporting from the Stein Line reporter Jake Fischer. Per multiple reports, Horford has been mulling a number of possible paths as an unrestricted free agent.

With Kevon Looney gone now, all signs look like it points to Al Horford (to the Warriors)” – @NotoriousOHMSource: Twitter What’s the buzz on Twitter? Vivek Jacob

Joe Mazzulla inherited a stacked roster when he took over as the Boston Celtics’ interim head coach in 2022. But even the first-time NBA head coach knows that it takes more than skill alone to win it all.