Leslie Alexander sold the Rockets but kept the trophies Team will order replicas of '94, '95 hardware

The NBA Championship trophies at a photo shoot honoring the Houston Rockets 20th anniversary of the 1993-94 and 1994-95 NBA back-to-back champion teams at the Toyota Center Thursday, March 19, 2015, in Houston, Texas. less The NBA Championship trophies at a photo shoot honoring the Houston Rockets 20th anniversary of the 1993-94 and 1994-95 NBA back-to-back champion teams at the Toyota Center Thursday, March 19, 2015, in Houston, ... more Photo: Gary Coronado, Houston Chronicle Photo: Gary Coronado, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Leslie Alexander sold the Rockets but kept the trophies 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

Leslie Alexander may have sold the Rockets, but he kept the championship trophies.

Alexander, who last September sold the Rockets for $2.2 billion to Houston businessman Tilman Fertitta, confirmed this week that he remains in possession at his home in Florida of the two Larry O'Brien Trophies he accepted for the team's back-to-back NBA titles in 1993-94 and 1994-95.

"They're here in a corner at my house," he said during a brief phone conversation. "I haven't decided how to set them up yet."

Alexander had the right to take the trophies with him because the NBA presents its championship trophy to the owner of the team, and it is the owner's prerogative to handle the trophy and display it as he chooses.

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He said the answer as to why he wanted to keep the trophies was an obvious one.

"You want to win championships," Alexander said. "That's what you're there for."

The NBA also allows teams to order replica trophies, and a Rockets spokesperson said the team is in the process of doing so.

As with the originals, the replicas will be located in the team's offices at Toyota Center and will be displayed at events for ticket-holders.

The two trophies won by the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and others were rarely seen in public, and the most visible symbols of those championship teams are the two banners that still hang in Toyota Center after being moved from Compaq Center, where the Rockets won their championships.

Still, the attention paid this offseason to the Astros' World Series trophy reflects the affection with which fans regard the golden symbols of championship memories.

At some point, the trophies will be back in downtown Houston – just not the originals.

Feritta had no comment on Alexander's decision to take the trophies but said he would be interested in a public display of the replicas.

The Spurs (five championships), Bulls (six) and Pistons (three) said their trophies are on display in their respective arenas. The Heat's three O'Brien Trophies are not on public display but are used for photo opportunities at games, community events and sponsor events.