Celtics Life · Oct 4, 2025
What Al Horford's departure means for the Celtics going forward
Al Horford has officially departed from the Boston Celtics for the final time, ending his 4-year stint with the team and 7 years in total. Horford made an all-star team, an all-defensive team and won a championship with the Celtics. His role as a leader was unquestioned in the locker room. Now that he is gone, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will have to become even more vocal leaders.
When Marcus Smart was traded, it left a hole in the leadership department that the Jays, specifically Jaylen Brown, stepped into. With Horford gone as well, this will leave an even bigger void in the locker room, with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum being the clear elder statesmen of the team.