Boston Celtics center Al Horford has a chance to do the funniest thing ever.
Horford remains a vital piece of the Celtics’ championship core, but Father Time looms. The future Hall of Famer turns 39 at the start of June.
However, there is one brilliant idea in the cards for Horford that would help him stave off the inevitable.
Horford could take a page from Michael Jordan’s playbook: retire this summer, take a year off, and stage a triumphant return in 2026.
This move would align perfectly with the Celtics’ timeline, especially given Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, sidelining JT for the 2025-26 season. Horford’s hiatus and comeback could set the stage for a renewed championship push in 2026-27.
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Retiring this summer would allow Horford to rest his body, spend time with family, and recharge after nearly two decades in the NBA.
Like Jordan, who stepped away in 1993 to refresh mentally and physically, Horford could use 2025 to maintain his conditioning privately, avoiding the grind of an 82-game season. This break would preserve Horford’s legs for a late-career resurgence, capitalizing on his still-elite basketball IQ and shooting touch.
Assuming Tatum’s Achilles injury requires a full year of recovery, Horford could return in 2026, signing a two-year, team-friendly deal with Boston. At 40, he’d rejoin a reloaded Celtics roster featuring a healthy Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
With Tatum back at full strength, Horford’s experience from the 2022 and 2024 Finals would be invaluable.
Horford’s legacy as a Celtics icon would only grow if he adopted the above retirement plan.
Take a year off and enjoy life, Al. You are a Celtics legend forever, but your journey in green still has one chapter remaining.
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