At 39 years old, Horford still exudes excellence.

During the Lakers vs. Warriors preseason match, the Lakers kept LeBron James and Doncic sidelined, whereas the Warriors fielded their full starting lineup. Hence, the Lakers losing was expected. Naturally, preseason isn’t about wins or losses but about how well the new players integrate.

For the Warriors, the standout surprise was definitely 39-year-old Horford. A genuinely skilled player instantly makes an impact when on the floor, as Horford showed today. The Warriors started with Curry, Draymond, Butler, Poole, and Moody, while Horford came off the bench. However, this lineup isn’t likely to be the Warriors’ regular season starters since Horford is expected to be a starter.

At 8 minutes and 53 seconds into the first quarter, Horford entered the game replacing Moody, making the lineup resemble the Warriors’ probable starting five for the new season. Once Horford was on the court, he quickly developed chemistry with Curry. In a fast break, Curry passed to Horford, then cut inside; Horford perfectly timed the pass back to Curry for a and-one play.

Although it was their first time playing together, both veterans have long NBA careers. Horford understands Curry’s playing style, and Curry knows the ball will eventually come back to him. Their veteran chemistry required no time to build—it was immediate.

In another possession, the Warriors set up a five-out offense with Horford positioned at the top of the arc to space the floor. He then cut down, drawing his defender away from the arc, allowing Curry to get open and receive an assist from Draymond for a three-pointer. Usually, Draymond initiates from the top of the key, but this time he was at the baseline, showing the Warriors have added more offensive sets.

On defense, Horford’s two high-ball screen double teams were near flawless. The first time, he switched onto Brown Jr., then decisively abandoned him to trap the middle as the shot clock was expiring. By the time Brown Jr. received the ball, the 24 seconds had run out.

The second double team came along the sideline, where Horford timed it perfectly to trap Brown Jr., causing a turnover and earning Horford a steal in the stats. In his first five-plus minutes on the floor, the Warriors outscored their opponents by 14 points. Though Horford didn’t score, he did everything right on the court.

When defending pick-and-rolls, Horford’s timing for delaying or retreating was impeccable, effectively disrupting the Lakers’ pick-and-roll offense. Of course, asking Horford to block an alley-oop from Ayton would be too much for this 39-year-old veteran.

By halftime, Horford had played 14 minutes, shooting 1-for-3 from three, scoring 3 points with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks, without any turnovers or fouls, and boasting a plus-minus of +13!

Horford can perfectly complement Draymond; when Draymond roams, Horford protects the rim, and when Draymond is near the basket, Horford can help with rotations and block shots. Horford recorded three blocks in just over ten minutes of play, showcasing his defensive impact.

Last season, the Warriors only had Poole as a spacing big man, whose rim protection was far inferior to the seasoned Horford. Therefore, adding Horford addresses the team’s biggest weakness. Plus, Horford and Poole can even play together as dual floor-spacing bigs, giving the Warriors a much richer set of offensive options and sparking fans’ imaginations.

A few days ago, Howard said, “Al Horford really inspires me! We’re from the same high school class, and he’s still competing!” Horford, the 2007 third overall pick, is about to start his 19th season, having won championships at every level from high school and college to the NBA.

He chose to leave his familiar home in Boston to prove he can still earn more than a minimum salary and, more importantly, that he can still start. Today was undoubtedly a great start toward that goal.