For Sale: Houston Rockets

HOUSTON, TX — Houston, we have an NBA team for sale. The Houston Rockets announced Monday afternoon that owner Les Alexander will sell the franchise he took to back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995.

Alexander vowed to sell the team to someone who's committed to keeping the Rockets in Houston. The Rockets released a written statement from the owner.

"It’s been my great joy and honor to own the Houston Rockets for the past 24 years," Alexander said. "I’ve had the incredible opportunity to witness true greatness through the players and coaches who have won championships for the city, been named to All-Star and All-NBA teams, enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, and done so much for our franchise and our fans."

Alexander bought the Rockets for $85 million in 1993 and subsequently won NBA titles in 1994 and 1995. In 2008 he was named best owner in the NBA by Forbes.

Rockets CEO Tad Brown made the announcement public on Monday and said the players were notified prior, including James Harden, who'd just signed a contract extension, and Chris Paul, who was recently picked up in a trade.

"The guys love him. They love Leslie," Brown said. "He's a person who's always 120 percent with them, giving them whatever they need to be successful, and they feel that. He's one of the longest-tenured owners, one of the most successful and certainly one of the most influential."

In 1995 Alexander started Clutch City Foundation, which supports many various local charities.

"The Houston community has been home to me," Alexander said. "I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the fans, partners, city officials and employees who care so deeply for this team."

Caption: Houston Rockets' Yao Ming, left, of China, laughs with team owner Les Alexander before an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Friday, Nov. 9, 2007 in Houston.

Photo by Pat Sullivan/Associated Press