Shams: Horford has decided to opt out of his player option and sign a two-year, $14 million contract extension to stay with the Warriors.

According to a report by ESPN's Shams Charania on Thursday, Al Horford has decided not to exercise his $6 million player option for the 2026/27 season. He plans to sign a two-year, fully guaranteed $14 million contract extension with the Golden State Warriors after free agency begins, which includes a trade bonus clause.

Spotrac salary expert Keith Smith further pointed out that Horford's salary for the next two seasons will be $6.8 million and $7.2 million, respectively. With the new contract officially taking effect, Horford will become the 13th player in NBA history to extend his career to 20 seasons.

Al Horford, 40, is a 2.03-meter tall, 109-kilogram forward who entered the NBA in July 2007 as the third overall pick. He has played for several teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and Oklahoma City Thunder, winning the 2024 NBA championship with the Celtics.

In October 2025, Horford signed a two-year contract with the Warriors worth $12 million, with a player option for the second year. To date, he has played 45 regular season games for the Warriors, averaging 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 21.5 minutes per game, with a field goal percentage of 42.6% and a three-point percentage of 36.1%.

Speaking about the contract extension, Horford couldn't hide his excitement in an interview with ESPN: "It's unbelievable. I'm so grateful. It's not easy to stay in the league; it takes a lot of time, energy, and sacrifice. But I still feel like I can contribute to the team and have an impact."

"After a year with the Warriors, I've developed a strong chemistry with Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry, and my other teammates. I feel we're still improving and will have an even better season."

"If the whole team can stay healthy and play with a full roster, I think we are capable of competing with any opponent. I don't want to think too far ahead, but once Jimmy Butler and Moses Mudy return, we will be a very competitive team. We will do our best."

Horford doesn't believe his career is over anytime soon. He told ESPN clearly, "I feel great. I've been taking good care of myself. For the past five years, I've been taking it one step at a time. But now that I've signed a two-year contract, I'm thinking, 'Hey, let's go all out.' I'm not going to limit myself. As long as I feel good and can help the team achieve good results, we'll continue."

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