Dikembe Mutombo interested in buying Houston Rockets

Dikembe Mutombo played in the NBA from 1991 to 2009.

Dikembe Mutombo played in the NBA from 1991 to 2009.

Dikembe Mutombo wants to be an NBA owner.

The Hall of Fame center, who spent the majority of his career with the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets, is reportedly putting together a financial partnership to make a bid to purchase the Rockets.

Houston owner Leslie Alexander announced Monday he would put the franchise on the market.

"I'm talking to a lot of people already since [Monday]," Mutombo told Houston's Fox 26. "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, 51, said he missed an opportunity to purchase the Atlanta Hawks in 2015. A group led by Hall of Famer Grant Hill and billionaire philanthropist Antony Ressler bought the Hawks for $730 million.

"The Rockets are a great franchise," Mutombo told the Washington Post. "They have a great team. They've got great coaches, great basketball players, great staff. Whoever is coming in, it's not like they're going to have to rebuild it."

The Rockets recently added All-Star guard Chris Paul and were in talks to trade for New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony.

Forbes recently valued the Rockets at $1.6 billion.