Former Denver Nuggets star Dikembe Mutombo has worn many hats since breaking into the NBA in 1991: finger-wagging All-Star center, actor, humanitarian. Soon, it's possible Mutombo makes another career move and becomes a partial owner of an NBA franchise.
Mutombo told Houston's Fox affiliate Tuesday that he's trying to piece together a group he hopes will try to buy the Houston Rockets.
Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, who purchased the team in 1993 for $85 million, confirmed this week that the team was for sale. In February, Forbes valued the Rockets at $1.65 billion.
Steve Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014 for a record $2 billion.
The Rockets, who have MVP runner-up James Harden under contract through 2023, are coming off a 55-27 season. They should be even better in 2017-18 after acquiring superstar point guard Chris Paul.
"I'm trying to convince some people about trying to buy this team," Mutombo told Fox. "It's one of the best franchises right now. It's really the right time."
Mutombo, who made $127 million in career earnings according to Spotrac, played for Houston for five seasons from 2004-09. Mutombo expressed interest in an ownership stake of the Atlanta Hawks in 2014. But the Hawks were eventually sold to a group led by Anthony Ressler for $850 million.
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