HOUSTON – Today, Houston Rockets Chief Executive Officer Tad Brown announced
owner Leslie Alexander’s intentions to sell the franchise. Alexander has placed
Brown in charge of coordinating the sales process in conjunction with the NBA
league office.
“It’s been my great joy and honor to own the Houston Rockets for the past 24
years,” said Alexander. “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. And the Houston
community has been home to me; I will continue to support the charities I have
made commitments to throughout the years. 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. I’ve made this decision after much deliberation with my family
and friends, and do so knowing the franchise is in great shape with the players,
coaches and management team in place. CEO Tad Brown will oversee the sales
process with the league office, supported by my management team.”
Alexander assumed ownership of the Rockets on July 30, 1993 and the team went
onto win back-to-back championships in 1993-94 and 1994-95. Over his 24 seasons
as owner, the Rockets posted the fifth-highest winning percentage (.569) in the
NBA. The Rockets also registered the second-most winning seasons of any team in
the league over that span.
In 1995, Alexander established the Clutch City Foundation with the goal of
providing help, hope and inspiration to those who might otherwise be forgotten.
The Clutch City Foundation funds and operates comprehensive programs benefiting
thousands of children each year, as well as serving as the umbrella organization
for all Rockets community initiatives.
Throughout his years as owner, Alexander and the Clutch City Foundation
contributed more than $35 million to hundreds of charities throughout Houston.
Most recently in March of 2017, Alexander pledged $4 million to a group of 20
local charitable organizations. In April of 2016, he donated $500,000 to Mayor
Sylvester Turner’s Greater Houston Storm Relief Fund after the city was ravaged
by severe rain resulting in flooding.
Alexander and the Rockets organization have garnered numerous community service
awards, including the Pro Team Community Award in 1997, given by the World
Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.
In 1998, Alexander and the Rockets organization were awarded Leadership
Houston’s “Leadership in Action” Award for outstanding community service to
education, one year after winning the same award for outstanding community
service to youth.
Alexander and the Rockets were also honored with the 2005 Texas Association of
Partners in Education “Outstanding Business Partnership” award in the Houston
Independent School District (HISD). The Clutch City Foundation was also inducted
into the HISD Partners Hall of Fame for understanding the value of education, as
well as an active commitment to enhancing the educational experiences of HISD
students.
In October of 2016, Alexander and the Rockets were recognized by the
Anti-Defamation League Southwest Region as being a “Community Champion” for his
decades of charitable giving and leadership.
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