Dikembe Mutombo is looking for rich people to help him buy the Rockets

Dikembe Mutombo holds the Rockets near and dear to his heart, and he wants to make sure the organization remains that way. In an interview with FOX 26 Sports, Mutombo talked about potentially putting together an ownership group to purchase the Rockets from Leslie Alexander, who announced his intention to sell earlier in the week.

Mutombo might not have a majority stake in whatever purchase is made, but he said he wants to be a part of a new ownership group in some way.

“I’m working on it. 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 he also had a chance to do the same thing with the Atlanta Hawks in 2015, but missed out on the opportunity.

Mutombo had five other stops before he played the final five seasons of his career in Houston. He retired as a Rocket in 2009, averaging 15.6 minutes per game.

During the interview, Mutombo said he was surprised by the announcement the team was being sold like many others around the league. But he said the Rockets and Alexander have done “a lot” for the city and the organization’s players on and off the court.

Rockets team president Ted Brown didn’t give any specifics Monday as to why Alexander chose to sell the team now, but did say he felt the franchise was in a good place.

The Rockets are valued at $1.65 million with $244 million in annual revenue coming in, according to Forbes. Mutombo earned $127.4 million over his career, but that figure isn’t indicative of any investments he has made post-retirement or his net worth.

The Rockets have the runner-up for last year’s MVP and one of the best four or five players in the league in James Harden. On top of that, they just acquired Chris Paul from the Clippers. And, despite the Knicks slowing down trade talks, the Rockets are still front-runners to acquire Carmelo Anthony this offseason.

This is a team set up to compete at the top of the Western Conference for, at least, the next few years. A sale shouldn’t be hard to come by with their talent and the organization’s history of winning.