A familiar Houston billionaire wants to buy the Houston Rockets

Tillman Fertitta via Landry's Inc.

Tillman Fertitta knows a few things about pro sports.

Videos by Rare

RELATED: James Harden signs record-breaking contract extension to retire with Rockets

He was one of the original investors and a partner in the Texans, before the he had to sell his share when the NFL began prohibiting  team owners from having an interest in gambling-related business.

Fertitta, owner of Golden Nugget casinos in Louisiana, Mississippi and Las Vegas, complied but never lost his desire to own a sports franchise.

So on the heels of owner Leslie Alexander announcing he is selling the Houston Rockets, count the Landry’s magnate among the interested parties.

“I definitely have an interest,” Fertitta, the Landry’s restaurants founder and CEO and gambling mogul, said to the Houston Chronicle. “Just hope it doesn’t go for crazy numbers. I’ve never really wanted to own a professional team outside of Houston. Houston is my hometown and the place I would prefer to own a professional team.”

RELATED: Even though he needs the money, the owner of Joe’s is still “Crabby” and refusing Landry’s bid for the Shack

It wouldn’t be the first time Fertitta would have ties to the team; he served as an advisory director during the franchise’s championship seasons in 1994-95.

What do you think?

John Roberts shot back at Sarah Huckabee Sanders when he had to step out of an off-camera press briefing

Beloved character actor Harvey Atkin, best known for his roles in “Meatballs” and “Law and Order,” has died