Horford declined a $6 million player option with intentions to sign a two-year, $14 million contract with Golden State next month, when free agency begins. The $14 million is guaranteed and the deal includes a “trade kicker.”<\/p>\n
Only 12 other NBA players have spent 20 years in the NBA: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Jamal Crawford, Kevin Garnett, Udonis Haslem, LeBron James, Kyle Lowry, Dirk Nowitzki, Robert Parish, Chris Paul and Kevin Willis. Horford makes it 13 with this deal in place.<\/p>\n
“It’s hard to believe,” Horford said to ESPN. “It’s something that, for me, I’m very grateful. It’s just so hard to be in this league for that amount of years. There’s a lot of commitment, a lot of sacrifice and time. I still feel like I’m able to contribute and have an impact on a team.”<\/p>\n
At 40 years old, Horford is taking extra care of his body during the offseason. He will undergo a specially-crafted strength-and-conditioning program with the Warriors in San Francisco all summer and will refrain from competing internationally with the Dominican national team.<\/p>\n
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a><\/p>\n Health was a serious problem for the Warriors a year ago, with Jimmy Butler tearing his ACL and Steph Curry dealing with knee pain. Horford dealt with sciatica and a calf strain, which limited him to 45 games \u2014 only the fourth time in his career he’s played fewer than 60.<\/p>\n Despite finishing the regular season 37-45, Golden State made it to the play-in and upset the LA Clippers, aided by a quarter of 3-pointers from Horford. The Warriors still missed the playoffs after losing to the Phoenix Suns a few days later.<\/p>\n Young players such as fellow Florida alumnus Will Richard and first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg are also expected to ease the burden of Golden State’s aging core.<\/p>\n Follow us\u00a0@GatorsWire<\/a>\u00a0on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as\u00a0Bluesky<\/a>, and like our page on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators<\/a> news, notes and opinions.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/82604684007-20250322-t-011042-z-779806020-mt-1-usatoday-25734617-rtrmadp-3-ncaabasketballncaatournam.webp\")