Celtics' Al Horford confirms he's returning next season: 'Year 18 is going to happen'

Nick Wright, Kevin Wildes and Chris Broussard discuss the latest news in the NBA, including the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics defeated the Mavs in Game 5 to win their 18th NBA Title in franchise history.

Boston Celtics forward Al Horford, fresh off his first NBA Finals victory after 17 seasons, doesn't understand why people think he might retire. 

Year 18 is a full-go. 

"Year 18 is going to happen. Yes, I am coming back," Horford told Fox News Digital on Thursday, confirming what Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck said after the franchise won its record-18th title. 

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Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics poses for a portrait with the Larry O'Brian Trophy after winning Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024, at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

"I’m very excited. I really don’t know where people got that notion that I was going to stop playing. I feel really good. I’m very blessed to be in this position, and I will be back next year."

Grousbeck told WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show" that he was told Horfordwill be returning, and it makes sense considering he has one year left on the two-year $19.5 million contract he signed before the start of last season. 

Horford started all five Finals games, averaging seven points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks over 30 minutes per contest to help Boston capture its first title since the 2007-08 campaign. 

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And during the regular season, the five-time All-Star provided quality minutes – either as a starter or bench player