Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo, who played the final five years of his career with the Houston Rockets and retired in 2009, said he is working on putting a group together that he hopes will try and buy the Rockets franchise. Owner Leslie Alexander put the Rockets on the market on Monday. “I’m working on it,” Mutombo said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. “I’m talking to a lot of people already since (Monday). We’ll see. “I’m just talking to the people who can cut the check and they can make me be part of it. I’m working on that.” Mutombo said the people he is speaking with are receptive to the idea of attempting to purchase the Rockets franchise.
“A lot of people think it’s a great thing,” Mutombo said. “It’s a great opportunity. “Now it’s just a question of the number,” he said laughing. “There’s going to be a lot of discussion and a lot of cash. “I missed my opportunity two years ago with the Atlanta Hawks.” Mutombo played for the Hawks from 1996 to 2001. The Hawks were sold in 2015. Mutombo said the Rockets franchise presents a great opportunity for the next owner. H/T – Fox News Houston
Well when the Hawks tell you NO, NO, NO you gotta recalibrate and wait for your next chance to pounce. And Mutombo is taking it. I gotta say, he’s just about the last guy I would have in mind as a candidate to buy an NBA team. Call me crazy but he doesn’t seem like a former player who fits the mold of an owner. Then again, he’s not the cash guy here, or the business guy, or the GM/team builder type of guy. He’s just going to be Mutombo. Like a Magic Johnson with the Dodgers type role.
Dikembe just loves being around the game. He loves the fanfare, he loves being around the guys. He spent all his money giving back to his country and old community. Doing some real righteous work in Africa, building schools and hospitals for the under privileged. Literally transforming the areas he’s touched and helped. There might not be a more generous or selfless guy in NBA history. Him owning the Rockets would be great for everyone. A former team of his, the fans already love him. Everybody loves him. Even the people who think he’s just some random tall black dude in GEICO commercials (yes those people unfortunately exist) love him.
I always cherished Dikembe interviews. He rarely did them because of his thick accent and caveman type sounding tone. It’s an unforgettable voice. I’ll never forget the first time I met Dikembe Mutombo. It was back in 2004 when he was on the Knicks. I was back by the locker rooms after the game in the tunnels of MSG and out of the Knicks locker room he strolls, holding a HUGE 20 piece bucket of KFC fried chicken. I shit you not. Grinning from ear to ear, saying hi to everyone. He lit up the room. He stuck out his elbow as he walked by me as a high five. It was indeed a high five as teenage me had to reach above my head still to get to his elbow.
Dikembe will be able to attract whoever he needs to make this bid. He’s infectious. It’s hard to see or understand by looking at him, but he’ll make you a fan almost instantly. If anyone who doesn’t have the money deserves to be an NBA owner, its Dikembe Mutombo. I wish him luck because honestly, I can never get enough of the famed finger wag. I just hope that he declines all trades, team options, staff hirings and ownership choices simply with….
