Al Horford Chose Celtics Partly Because Of Fans’ Passion, According To His Dad

Give yourselves a pat on the back, Celtics fans: You just helped recruit Al Horford to Boston.

The former Atlanta Hawks big man agreed to a reported four-year, $113 million contract with the Celtics on Saturday night, and Horford’s father, former NBA player Tito Horford, told The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach that his son chose the green partly because of their fans’ passion for the game.

“There wasn’t as much motivation for him (in Atlanta) when he saw all the empty seats when they were winning,” Tito Horford told The Globe. “He said to me, ‘Dad, when we were playing Boston, they were down 15 points and they were cheering their team like they were winning the game. They’re so into the game.’ This is special for us, especially for him.”

“Ever since Boston, Danny Ainge and the whole organization began to show interest in him, that opened his eyes,” Tito Horford added. “He always had a good feel about Boston.”

Tito is a former NBA player himself, having played for the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Bullets in the 1980s and ’90s. He tried out for the Celtics in 1995, according to The Globe.

His son, a four-time All-Star, can’t seem to contain his excitement.

“He just said ‘Right now, I’m excited,’ ” Tito told The Globe. “He said, ‘I’m going to play for the Celtics, Dad. I don’t know who else they might get, but I’m here, and I’m hoping for the best.’ ”

So are those Celtics fans, Al.

Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images