DENVER -- Houston businessman Sidney Shlenker, who purchased the Denver Nuggets NBA franchise from fellow Texan Red McCombs, Thursday said he would do whatever is necessary to have a superior team.
Shlenker and minority partner Allen Becker, also from Houston, announced Thursday they had purchased the Nuggets for an undisclosed price from McCombs, a San Antonio auto dealer who had owned the Nuggets since 1982. The deal was accomplished in about a week of negotiating.
Shlenker, who will have to sell his minority ownership of the Houston Rockets, said he planned no changes in the management and coaching of the Nuggets. He said Vince Boryla will be retained as club president and Doug Moe as coach.
'I hope I can be involved and add some things in the areas of my expertise,' Shlenker said, 'but the one area I won't get involved in is player personnel. Vince and Doug will decide what players to put on the floor.'
Shlenker also promised the keep quality in mind for the Nuggets, who lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals this year.
'It would be foolish for people to come out and watch an inferior product,' he said. 'We'll put out the money and hopefully we'll be fortunate enough to have a superior product.'
McCombs said he hadn't even considered selling the franchise until Shlenker made him an offer last week.
'I never offered the Nuggets for sale and had never even discussed the possibility of a sale until Sidney contacted me last week,' McCombs said.
He said the discussion became serious Tuesday and the deal was finalized Wednesday.
Shlenker, 48, previously was president of the Houston Sports Association, Inc., and the Houston Astros baseball club.
Shlenker said he will be the Nuggets' majority owner, as well as board chairman and governor. Becker will be the vice chairmman and alternate governor.
Shlenker is senior board chairman of Allied Bank West Loop in Houston, board chairman of Channel 33 WBFS-TV in Miami, and chairman of Grant Broadcasting System, which owns UHF stations in Chicago, Philadelphia and Channel 33 in Miami.
He also is principal shareholder and director of First Texas Savings Association, the largest in Texas and 11th largest in the nation.
