He would not acknowledge that it was his call, saying that every decision in the nearly 14 years he has owned the team has come via unanimous agreement within the organization.

"When we trade a player, we never talk about the ex-player. We just talk about the new player," Alexander said. "We have a new coach. We're going to talk about the new coach the same exact way."

In brighter days, Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, left, helps introduce newly hired Jeff Van Gundy to Houston media in 2003.[Houston Chronicle]

Van Gundy has said Alexander wanted a coach with a more up-tempo style. Though Alexander said Rick Adelman's track record with faster, more prolific offensive teams was a consideration, he said the decision to dismiss Van Gundy was not his alone.

"There's going to be a different style because he's a different coach. Every coach has his own style," Alexander said. "This organization never makes a decision without everybody on board. All the years I've been here, it's always been everybody's on board."

Adelman talks to coach

Though Alexander would not discuss the process and its somewhat acrimonious end, Adelman said Van Gundy played an important role in his decision to pursue the position Van Gundy held.

"When I was called about the job, my first reaction was, 'What's going on with Jeff?' " Adelman said. "Daryl (Morey, the Rockets' general manager) told me I was perfectly free to call Jeff. I did that. Jeff and I had a conversation. We basically talked about what was going on. He wasn't sure he was going to coach. He gave them the opportunity to go out and talk to people. My name was mentioned, and he said, 'I told them you'd be a great candidate.'

"We talked for a while. That's why I went back and agreed to have the interview. I would have never interviewed if I didn't know Jeff was on board."

Adelman met with Alexander on May 11 at Alexander's New York home. Van Gundy was dismissed as Rockets coach a week later. But Adelman said he could relate to Van Gundy's position because the Sacramento Kings had pursued Phil Jackson while Adelman was still coach. Adelman said Van Gundy helped convince him to take the interview.

Been there, gone through it

"When I first heard about it," Adelman said, "I said, 'You have a coach.' That happened to me in Sacramento. I wasn't going to allow that. But after talking to Jeff, I felt comfortable talking to these people and finding out what was going on.

"He talked very positive about the situation, the city of Houston, the players. He thought the players were great. He was just very positive at the time. I just wanted to be sure what was going on.

"The procedure started happening, and it came together."