Jason Terry: Harden 'was all over me' to re-sign with Rockets

Jason Terry was all set to explore his options in free agency, but his All-NBA teammate barred the door.

Terry ultimately re-signed with the Houston Rockets on a reported one-year minimum contract, and though the soon-to-be 38-year-old point guard's role is likely to shrink considerably - with Patrick Beverley returning from injury and Ty Lawson in the fold - Terry says James Harden convinced him to stick around.

"No question, he was all over me," Terry told Mark Berman of FOX 26 Sports on Wednesday. "(Harden) basically wasn't letting me go anywhere. That was tough for me knowing how important I am to his growth and his development.

"You're not the main guy, but the main guy needs you. It makes it a lot easier to come back."

Terry said he was torn because he had an enticing offer on the table from the New Orleans Pelicans, a team long on talent and potential but short on experience and leadership.

"It was tough for me because New Orleans presented a great opportunity to work with a young core that is on the cusp of doing some good things in this league," Terry said.

In the end, though, Harden's relentlessness won out. So, too, did the prospect of a second NBA championship to cap Terry's career. The Rockets fell just seven games short of that lofty goal last season, despite a spate of untimely injuries that contributed to Terry starting at point guard for each of the team's 17 playoff games.

"You obviously see how close we are, and with the acquisition of Ty Lawson that makes us even closer than we were last season," Terry said.

"And we're healthy. A healthy Patrick Beverley, a healthy (Donatas) Motiejunas. I feel confident we are going to build on the success we had last season, seeing how (Rockets general manager) Daryl (Morey) put this team together."