The addition of center Al Horford figures to pay dividends for the Warriors in several ways during the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season.
As coach Steve Kerr sees it, one of those ways could be helping a 22-year-old budding star break out.
“Maybe Al and JK [Jonathan Kuminga],” Kerr answered Friday when reporters asked which Horford combination excites him most. “You know, I think that’s a two-man combo that could make some sense.”
Kerr and the Warriors have long searched for a way to get more consistent production from Kuminga, who has flashed immense potential but also experienced bouts of ineffectiveness throughout his career.
Per Kerr, Horford could be the key to finally stabilizing Kuminga and turning his lineups into winning combos.
“With JK, we want to give him space when he’s got the ball,” Kerr said. “Al can do that. So, if JK’s at the four, Al’s at the five and we put shooters around those guys, that could be an interesting combination.”
Horford enters his 19th NBA season as the Warriors’ biggest offseason addition. A veteran center who can space the floor and play quality defense, the 39-year-old could give Golden State a dimension they’ve lacked in recent years under Kerr.
“The defensive wherewithal that Al has, just the accumulation of so much knowledge and experience in his career, is definitely going to help him and help us,” Kerr said. “Another big, athletic rim protector can only help.”
Plus, Kerr added, Kuminga won’t be the only direct beneficiary of Horford’s presence.
“Al, with anybody, is going to be good,” the Warriors’ head coach said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s Draymond [Green], Jimmy [Butler]…he could even play with Trayce [Jackson-Davis] or QP [Quinten Post]. So, the beauty of Al is the versatility he gives us from a lineup standpoint.”
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