And if she doesn’t want in, call up Yao.
It’s been 22 years since the Houston Rockets last put a ring on it, and Leslie Alexander is ready to allow someone else to try. News of the Rockets being put up for sale rocked the NBA community, but the solution seems obvious: Let Beyonce upgrade HOU.
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is more than the most famous Houstonian alive. She’s put the city on the pop culture map with regular shoutouts (“I’m out that H town comin’ down”) . And she’s a Rockets fan – she’s shown up in their jerseys on several occasions including her blowout performance at “Made In America.” She even has a song called “Rocket.”
Beyonce and husband Jay-Z, himself a former part-owner of the Brooklyn Nets, are estimated to be worth more than $1 billion. The Rockets should be sold for more than double that – remember that the Los Angeles Clippers, playing second-fiddle in an only slightly larger market, were sold for $2 billion. But we’re not here trying to say the mother of three should liquidate Blue’s trust fund to buy her hometown team.
Whichever billionaire does buy the Rockets – the Houston area alone has 11 – would be wise to start things out right: Get Beyonce on board with her own stake. Have her sing the anthem or perform at halftime once a year, if she wants. Let her have the best seat in the house whenever she wants (which she probably already can get) .
There’s not a better face of the franchise, with all due respect to James Harden.
But if there’s anyone that’s close…
Eric Christian Smith/AP
Rockets legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Yao Ming owns the Shanghai Sharks in China’s National Basketball League. Alexander paid Yao $94 million during his time with the Rockets, but the 7-5 center netted the team so much more because of his role in turning China into a basketball-obsessed country. Ask Tracy McGrady or even Chuck Hayes about what having Yao on your team can do.
The Rockets still reap the benefits of their Yao connection, but that would be strengthened tenfold by having him as an official member of the ownership group. In an era with sponsor logos on jerseys and deepening connections to the international community, NBA teams would be foolish not to team up with worldwide superstars.
Bey and Yao. Name a more iconic Rockets minority ownership duo than that. I’ll wait.
