Al Horford’s $19.5 million deal, which lasted two years, is about to expire. He is currently in the midst of his 38th season, and if the Boston Celtics make it back to the NBA Finals next year, he will be 39 years old when the team prepares for the summer of 2025.

The veteran big man’s career is winding down, whether you like it or not. Given that he was instrumental in the Celtics’ 18-win season last year, I doubt many of us would have been surprised if he had announced his retirement at that point. But he’s determined to stick it out for the last year of his contract.

During an interview for WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show,” Wyc Grousbeck informed Celtics supporters, “Al is coming back for next year.” As far as I am aware, that is the case. I can’t believe it’s 38 years old.

Horford might have retired victorious. He might have retired from basketball with the title he had set for himself when he signed with the team as a top free agent in 2016. Instead, he is being the model of professionalism that the franchise has grown to expect from him and sticking to his contract.

The Celtics, who will surely have their sights set on a back-to-back next season, will take heart from that choice. Horford continues to have a significant impact on the rotation even though he is getting close to 40 years old. In the locker room, he is the seasoned voice. When it comes to winning, he loves the little things.

It is difficult to gauge Horford’s influence from the box score. What was once a measure to doubt his worth to the Celtics is now a platform to celebrate his name. Everyone who follows the Celtics has bought into his winning basketball philosophy. His worth has always been very evident.

For a large chunk of his job, Horford stays out of sight:

His screens are really solid.Controls the back linePulls off his open-target shotsCreates for his teammatesIs a short-roll threatHe is not very good at calling himself.Conflicts on the screenFurthermore, he has emerged as a model of a defender who excels at managing angles instead of depending on explosiveness and athleticism.View the video clip up top. When Horford checks into games, he adds this veteran’s skill set. Notice how he strategically cuts to make room for Payton Pritchard. With the baseline opened by Horford’s cut, Pritchard is able to launch an attack off the rip-through. His defender’s misaligned hips as he tries to close out on Tatum are just one more detail that gives the Celtics the upper hand in this play.

This is the highest form of praise – you understand what you’re getting,” Mazzulla informed the press on February 7.