Al Horford says bypassing the Rockets wasn't easy

HOUSTON – Boston big man Al Horford said he was impressed with theHouston Rockets' free-agency pitch over the summer.

It was a difficult decision for Horford, whose dad wanted him to play for the Rockets.

Horford, who eventually signed a four-year, $113 million deal with the Celtics, had one of his first free-agent meetings with the Rockets, with Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler among those in attendance.

“It was a privilege,” Horford said. “[Olajuwon] and Clyde were there, and my dad went to high school [Marian Christian] here in Houston, and he was pushing Houston hard. Hakeem, to him, was a big deal, and for me to be able to talk with him and spend some time. At the end of the day, just looking at the future and everything, I felt like here in Boston was going to be a better fit for me in the long run.”