A tough decision for Al Horford to turn down Rockets

NBA Update – The Rockets had hoped Celtics center Al Horford would be in town long before Monday’s game at Toyota Center. They almost got their wish.

Horford said he was impressed with the Rockets’ free-agency pitch and strongly considered signing with the Rockets before choosing the Celtics, much to the disappointment of his father and former Marian Christian High School star Tito Horford.

“I liked them a lot,” Horford said. “Just a great organization. I was very impressed by their owner (Leslie Alexander) and James (Harden) and just everyone all together. It was a very difficult decision for me to make.”

The Rockets were in the running for Horford and former Hawks teammate Kent Bazemore, before heading to California the next day to reach agreements with Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon.

“I thought we had a chance,” Harden said. “I thought we had a really good chance, but obviously it didn’t work out, which is fine.”

The Rockets brought in Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler for the meeting, leaving an impression on Horford and especially his father.

“It was a privilege,” Horford said. “My dad went to high school here in Houston. He was pushing Houston hard. Hakeem to him, it’s a big deal for me to be able talk to him and to spend some time. At the end of the day, just looking at the future and everything, I felt like Boston is going to be a better fit for me in the long run.

That led to a difficult call to tell the Rockets his decision, and a tougher one to his father.

“Definitely (calling) my dad (was tougher),” Horford said. “He loves it here. We have a lot of friends of the family here living in the area so he was heart-broken. He’s happy for me at the end of the day, but it was definitely a tough call.”

Category: Basketball