The sale of the Denver Nuggets is giving David Checketts the chance he wanted in Utah.
Checketts, the former Jazz general manager, was introduced as the Nuggets' president and part-owner at a news conference in Denver Monday. Describing his ownership share as a "significant chunk," Checketts joins Chicago businessman Bertram M. Lee and other investors in the reported $65 million purchase. The team will be the first minority-controlled sports franchise and will stay in Denver.Checketts recently told the Deseret News he was considering a specific opportunity with an NBA team, only in the "right situation." One of his last efforts to create such an environment for himself in Utah was organizing investors in an unsuccessful bid to buy the Jazz from owner Larry Miller during last season.
Joining the Nuggets as a co-owner gives Checketts everything he wanted with the Jazz. He'll be able to profit from his work to raise the franchise's value and will apparently have free rein with the business operation. The sale includes the management of the McNichols Sports Arena facilities, including a restaurant; Checketts had hoped to manage the new Jazz arena, but Miller selected another building manager.
In another twist, Nuggets owner Sidney Shlenker had tried to buy the Jazz from Sam Battistone in 1985, resulting in Miller's becoming a co-owner to keep the team in town. Lee, Checketts' partner, tried to buy the San Antonio Spurs last year but lost out to B.J. "Red" McCombs.
Checketts, 33, joined the Jazz as executive-vice president in September 1983. He became team president and later president-general manager before deciding to give part of his title to Frank Layden, who resigned as the Jazz coach last December. Checketts announced on June 1 that he was leaving the Jazz, although his resignation was not effective until July 1.