One of Steve Kerrâ€s peers has placed his stamp of approval on Al Horfordâ€s fit with the Warriors.
Former NBA coach and current ESPN analyst Michael Malone, who led the Denver Nuggets to their first championship in 2023, described in a segment for the networkâ€s “NBA Countdown†how Horfordâ€s addition could transform Golden Stateâ€s offense this season.
“Theyâ€ve added a proficient 3-point shooting big man,†Malone said. “Champion, high character, culture— they havenâ€t had this spacing, 1 through 5, in a long time.â€
Horfordâ€s ability to shoot from long distance is expected to make opponents pay for selling out on Stephen Curry and other Warriors playmakers. The 39-year-old center shot over 40 percent from 3-point range in his final three seasons with the Boston Celtics.
“The number of wide-open shots that heâ€s going to get is going to spread out their offense and make a really tough offensive team to guard even that much harder,†Malone said.
It isnâ€t just Horfordâ€s range that has Malone so optimistic, however. In the 2024-25 NBA season, the Warriors ran just 10 total pick-and-roll plays involving Curry and a center. Their new acquisition, Horford, has tallied the sixth-most pick-and-pop shots of any player over the last 10 seasons.
“Steve Kerr, historically, has not been a big pick-and-roll coach,†Malone observed. “They havenâ€t had maybe the players…now, youâ€re adding a guy [in] in the last ten years [who] is one of the most prolific pick-and-pop bigs the game has seen. So, I think this is a match made in heaven. I know Steph Curry has to be really excited.â€
Based on the early reviews from Malone and Kerr, Warriors fans should be plenty excited, as well.
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