Ex-owner keeping trophies
Leslie Alexander may have sold the Rockets, but he kept the championship trophies.
Alexander, who in September sold the Rockets for $2.2 billion to Houston businessman Tilman Fertitta, confirmed this week he remains in possession at his home in Florida of the two Larry O’Brien Trophies he accepted for the team’s back-to-back NBA titles in 1993-94 and 1994-95.
“They’re here in a corner at my house,” he said. “I haven’t decided how to set them up yet.”
Alexander had the right to take the trophies with him because the NBA presents its championship trophy to the owner of the team, and it is the owner’s prerogative to handle the trophy
and display it as he chooses.
He said the answer as to why he wanted to keep the trophies was an obvious one.
“You want to win championships,” Alexander said. “That’s what you’re there for.”
The NBA also allows teams to order replica trophies, and a Rockets spokesperson said the team is in the process of doing so.
As with the originals in the past, the replicas will be located in the team’s offices at Toyota Center and will be displayed at events for ticket-holders.
The two trophies won by the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and others were rarely seen in public, and the most visible symbols of those championship teams are the two banners that hang in Toyota Center after being moved from Compaq Center, where the Rockets won their titles.
Still, the attention paid this offseason to the Astros’ World Series trophy reflects the affection with which fans regard the golden symbols of championship memories.
At some point, the trophies will be back in Houston — just not the originals.
Feritta had no comment on Alexander’s decision to take the trophies, but he said he’d be interested in a public display of the replicas.
The San Antonio Spurs (with five championships), Chicago Bulls (six) and Detroit Pistons (three) have their trophies on display in their respective arenas.
The Miami Heat’s three Larry O’Brien Trophies are not on public display but are used for photo opportunities at games, community events and sponsor events.