Al Horford signs contract extension with Celtics

Al Horford is shooting a career-best 48.8% on 3-pointers this season.

Boston Celtics center Al Horford will get a longer stay in town. Horford and the Celtics have agreed to a reported two-year contract extension that will keep the former All-Star center with Boston through the 2024-25 season.

Horford was set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and his new deal prevents the scenario of him leaving town in free agency as he did in 2019. That summer, he left Boston after three seasons to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

EXTENDED ✅ pic.twitter.com/EZsiexuADK

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 1, 2022

Per source, Celtics center Al Horford’s two-year, $20 million extension is fully guaranteed, with a trade kicker.

— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) December 1, 2022

This season, Horford is averaging 10.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 55.5% overall and a career-best 48.8% on 3-pointers. His 3-point percentage ranks 6th best in the NBA and his 39 made 3-pointers have him on pace to shatter his previous career high for 3-pointers (99) set in the 2019-20 season with the Sixers.

Horford returned to Boston in the 2021 offseason in a deal that sent Kemba Walker to Oklahoma City in the first major move of Brad Stevens’ era in the front office. Horford more than proved his worth last season, particularly in the playoffs, where he went from 10.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 3.4 apg in the regular season to 12 ppg, 9.3 rpg and 3.8 apg in the playoffs. He was outstanding in Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals, finishing with 26 points, six rebounds and three assists in Boston’s 120-108 victory.

The former No. 3 overall pick of the 2007 Draft, Horford was an All-Star in 2009-10 and 2011-12 with the Atlanta Hawks, ’14-15 and ’15-16 with the Celtics, and ’17-18 with the 76ers. He made the NBA All-Defensive second team in 2017-18 and was an All-NBA third-team selection in 2010-11.

He is a valued veteran voice for the Celtics and has proven crucial to Boston amassing an NBA-best 18-4 mark to open the 2022-23 season.