Houston Rockets • 2003-2004 Media Guide - NBA Media Central
Houston Rockets • 2003-2004 Media Guide - NBA Media Central
Houston Rockets • 2003-2004 Media Guide - NBA Media Central
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When Leslie Alexander purchased the <strong>Rockets</strong> on<br />
July 30, 1993, he made it clear that he wanted the<br />
best franchise in professional sports — both on<br />
and off the court. His mission was simple: to win<br />
championships for <strong>Houston</strong> and to help<br />
<strong>Houston</strong>ians in need. He has succeeded<br />
repeatedly on both fronts, but constantly searches<br />
for ways to take his mission to a higher level.<br />
“I’ve always believed that sports teams are in the<br />
unique position to make a real difference in their<br />
communities,” Alexander said. “When I bought<br />
the <strong>Rockets</strong>, that was my dream. I hoped to make<br />
a difference for the people of <strong>Houston</strong>, both<br />
emotionally and financially.”<br />
Since 1993, Alexander has dedicated himself to<br />
building the <strong>Rockets</strong> franchise in every area. His<br />
tireless efforts to construct a downtown arena<br />
became a reality this year with the opening of<br />
Toyota Center.<br />
“I want to do the most we can every year to win the<br />
championship,” he said. “That’s always our goal,<br />
and it has been thrilling to see what we've<br />
accomplished over the last ten years.”<br />
Alexander has continually proven his commitment<br />
to success. He has engineered numerous moves<br />
to enable the <strong>Rockets</strong> to improve the team:<br />
In 1995, Alexander orchestrated a deal with<br />
Portland to bring <strong>Houston</strong> native Clyde Drexler to<br />
the <strong>Rockets</strong>. This trade served as a springboard to<br />
<strong>Houston</strong>’s second-consecutive championship just<br />
four months later.<br />
In 1996, Alexander signed Hakeem Olajuwon<br />
to a long-term contract extension.<br />
In 1996, Alexander acquired <strong>NBA</strong> All-Star<br />
Charles Barkley from Phoenix.<br />
In 1997, Alexander gave a multi-year contract<br />
extension to Head Coach Rudy Tomjanovich.<br />
In 1999, the <strong>Rockets</strong> traded with Chicago for<br />
six-time <strong>NBA</strong> champion Scottie Pippen.<br />
In 1999, Alexander acquired Steve Francis,<br />
giving <strong>Houston</strong>, at that time, its highest-drafted<br />
player since Olajuwon joined the team in 1984.<br />
In 2002, Alexander and the <strong>Rockets</strong> made<br />
history with the first overall pick of the 2002 <strong>NBA</strong><br />
Draft by selecting Yao Ming, making him the firstever<br />
player from an international league to be<br />
drafted number one.<br />
In <strong>2003</strong>, Alexander hired Jeff Van Gundy as<br />
the 10th head coach in franchise history. Van<br />
Gundy comes to <strong>Houston</strong> after posting a winning<br />
record in each of his seven seasons with New York.<br />
Alexander spearheaded the team’s search for a<br />
new coach. Among the highly qualified candidates<br />
interviewed, Alexander decided that Van Gundy<br />
most possessed the personal qualities and coaching<br />
experience to develop <strong>Houston</strong>’s talent and lead<br />
the <strong>Rockets</strong> to postseason success.<br />
7<br />
While Alexander’s teams have been most<br />
successful on the basketball court, unique to the<br />
<strong>Rockets</strong> organization is its off-the-court<br />
commitment to the community. Building a better<br />
quality of life for <strong>Houston</strong>ians is a driving force for<br />
Alexander and the <strong>Rockets</strong>. A decade of active<br />
community involvement has resulted in more<br />
than $5 million in donations to local charities and<br />
allowed the <strong>Rockets</strong> to impact tens of thousands<br />
of <strong>Houston</strong>ians each year.<br />
“It’s so important to me that the <strong>Houston</strong> <strong>Rockets</strong><br />
find a way to thank the fans for their overwhelming<br />
devotion to our team. One way we try to do that<br />
is by reaching out to young people through our<br />
community programs and fundraising initiatives,”<br />
Alexander said.<br />
In 1995, Alexander established the Clutch City<br />
Foundation with the goal of providing help, hope<br />
and inspiration to those who might otherwise be<br />
forgotten. Through the Clutch City Foundation,<br />
the <strong>Rockets</strong> are involved in several community<br />
service and charity fundraising programs.<br />
The Clutch City Foundation funds and operates<br />
comprehensive programs benefiting thousands<br />
of children each <strong>Rockets</strong> season. In 1998, the<br />
<strong>Rockets</strong> were awarded the “Leadership <strong>Houston</strong>”<br />
Leadership in Action award for outstanding<br />
community service to education, one year after<br />
winning the same award for outstanding<br />
community service to youth.<br />
Alexander and the <strong>Rockets</strong> received the 1997 Pro<br />
Team Community Award, given by the World<br />
Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. This award<br />
recognizes one professional team each year that<br />
exemplifies community service. In accepting the<br />
award, Alexander said, “The <strong>Rockets</strong> are honored<br />
to represent our great fans in bringing this special<br />
recognition to our community. It is our privilege<br />
and responsibility to help make a difference in the<br />
lives of <strong>Houston</strong>ians in need.”<br />
Through the Clutch City Foundation, the <strong>Rockets</strong><br />
organization will continue to make a difference<br />
in the lives of <strong>Houston</strong>ians for years to come.<br />
When the <strong>NBA</strong> Board of Governors decided to<br />
create the Women’s National Basketball<br />
Association, Alexander saw an opportunity to<br />
bring a new and exciting brand of professional<br />
basketball to <strong>Houston</strong>. <strong>Houston</strong> was granted a<br />
franchise and Alexander, who knew firsthand of<br />
the city’s love for professional basketball,<br />
immediately set out to build another champion.<br />
As with the <strong>Rockets</strong>, Alexander again had the<br />
magic touch. In the first four years of the W<strong>NBA</strong>,<br />
the <strong>Houston</strong> Comets claimed four consecutive<br />
league championships.<br />
OWNER