Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has served as the chairman of the University of Houston System Board of Regents since 2009. The program's basketball arena -- the Fertitta Center -- was even named in his honor.

Tilman Fertitta, who is preparing to be the U.S. ambassador to Italy, had fun at the Mavericks' expense in recent Oval Office visit.

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta must have looked at the rival Dallas Mavericks with envy last year, as Luka Doncic took them to the 2024 NBA Finals. His Rockets had not even made the playoffs, but fast forward to today, and the fortunes of both teams have turned drastically.