Source: Tilman Fertitta agrees to buy Rockets for record $2.2 billion

— -- Rockets owner Leslie Alexander has agreed to sell the team to Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta for $2.2 billion, a record NBA franchise sales price, a league told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The sale of the Rockets was first reported Tuesday by KRIV-Fox 26 Sports in Houston. The Rockets sale would eclipse the record of Steve Ballmer's $2 billion purchase of the LA Clippers in 2014.

Forbes Magazine values the Rockets franchise this past February at $1.65 billion -- good for eighth in the NBA -- with revenues of $244 million.

Fertitta is the owner of Landry's Inc., one of the nation's biggest restaurant corporations. He told KRIV-Fox 26 earlier this year that he was interested in buying the Rockets after Alexander announced that the franchise was for sale. Fertitta also told the KRIV-Fox 26 that he planned to keep the Rockets in Houston.

An original investor in the NFL's Houston Texans, Fertitta offered $81 million to buy the Rockets in 1993, but the team was sold to Alexander for $85 million.

The Rockets won the NBA title in the first two seasons after Alexander bought the team. In 24 seasons under Alexander's ownership, the Rockets have won 56.9 percent of their games, fifth-best in the league.

ESPN's Darren Rovell contributed to this report.