Positioned as a blue-collar worker, he still won 112 million yuan after the age of 35. Now he has only succeeded in one inspection game, which has become the team s X factor!

Because Jonathan Cumingga ended her contract renewal with the Warriors until the start of this season, she signed a two-year contract to stay in Golden State. Therefore, the Warriors made large-scale signings not long ago, which led to the team having to consume more energy in order to get new players to adapt to the team's system and tactics as soon as possible. However, it is gratifying that in the preseason against the Lakers, the new players performed very well. Among them, the stunning one is undoubtedly the 39-year-old veteran Al Horford.

Since entering the NBA in 2007, Horford has always been a blue-collar positioning, and he has performed well during the Hawks and Celtics. And what's even more amazing is that even though he is over 35 years old, he can still get the attention of a lot of teams and directly receive an astonishing $112 million in contract salary. This time, his debut with the Warriors, he contributed 3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks, and his performance was perfect and he successfully inspected the goods in just one game. Let's take a look at what kind of charm Horford has, which makes him still reused by the Warriors even though he is about to retire!

The ultimate space-type inside line can reshape the offensive system.

Horford's arrival, the most critical thing for the Warriors is to strengthen the offense in the inside. In the past few years, the Warriors have relied on the terrifying outside offensive firepower and strong defensive system to create the glory of four championships in eight years. But as the core players gradually grow old, the disadvantages of space are gradually magnified.

Although he is 39 years old, Horford's ability is still quite good. In the Celtics last season, he still can output 9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, with a three-point shooting percentage of 36.3%, and a total of 114 three-pointers. It is very obvious from the data level alone. Horford is very suitable for this Warriors system. You should know that the three-point shooting percentage of all the inside players of the Warriors last season was only 29.3%, ranking fifth from the bottom in the league. His joining undoubtedly greatly strengthened this weak ring, and this will also provide the team with more space on the offensive end.

At the same time, don't forget Horford's extremely terrifying basketball IQ. Whether it was the early Eagles, the Celtics, the later 76ers, the Thunder, and the Return to the Celtics, he could basically adapt to various tactical systems at any time, which is his value. With stable first-hand support and accurate passes, Horford not only plays the role of outside shooting on the offensive end, but also shares the organizational pressure of Draymond Green, giving teammates the opportunity to pass and cut at a high position. In this preseason game with the Lakers, although the intensity was not that high, it was enough to reflect his outstanding passing and running ability.

Throughout his NBA career, he can send 3.2 assists, and the assist-and-turnover ratio is controlled at 2.2. This is a very commendable existence in the center position. Horford's arrival will undoubtedly reshape the team's offensive system.

defense lubricant, guarantee at critical moments.

Of course, Horford also has a very important role, that is, to strengthen the team's defense. After being able to maintain a foothold in the NBA for 19 years, Horford's role on the defensive end cannot be ignored. His strong defense switching ability, even at this age, made countless opponents feel afraid. After joining the Warriors, he gave Green a time to breathe on the defensive end.

In this game against the Lakers, the Warriors have basically formed the defensive center axis of Green's defense sweeping + Horford's inside squat pit, and the effect is very good. Especially under Horford's inside defense, the Lakers' inside shooting percentage is only 40%, which is enough to prove his value. And don't forget that his rebounding protection ability is also the top-notch existence in the NBA. In the past, the Warriors often snatched offensive rebounds by their opponents in the last moments of the game due to insufficient size, which eventually led to a loss. The arrival of Horford will largely solve this long-standing problem.

Finally, let's talk about other values ​​of Horford, that is, his rich experience. As one of the 2024 champions, Horford has very rich regular season and playoff experience. During the Eastern Conference playoffs, he fought with top inside players such as Dwight Howard, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Whether on the defensive or offensive end, he can help the team at critical moments, especially in the season when he won the championship, he could contribute 9.2 points, 7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in the playoffs. In the long absence of Porzingis, he supported the team's inside system. At that time, he was already 38 years old. This is what the Warriors value him the most.

Therefore, as long as Steve Cole can protect Horford as much as possible and carry out the rotation rest system appropriately, the Warriors this season are likely to complete a complete change after Horford arrives and rush out of the West again.