With the lockout in full effect, we here at HOOPSWORLD thought it would be a good idea (with a hat tip to a reader who suggested the series) to take a look at what comprises the “Owners” side of the debate. Who are the owners, where did they come from, and what have they done?

Also, while the NBA will debate the validity of these numbers, we will use the 2010 Forbes Magazine NBA valuations as a means of comparing the teams to each other. Forbes doesn’t claim these are 100% accurate – they are estimates – and they may not match an actual bottom line figure, but in the absence of having those figures the Forbes numbers are a starting point. Plus, the relative difference in the numbers between teams is still likely accurate.

The plan is to break down the owners one division at a time over a couple weeks. As each new piece goes up on the site, we’ll make sure each of the pieces is linked to each other. Hopefully our readers find this as interesting to read as it was for us to research.

Click here for the Pacific Division.

Denver Nuggets – Stan Kroenke

Ownership Group: Liberty Media, the parent company of Ascent Entertainment Group who sold the team to Kroenke, retained a 6.5% stake.
Purchase Price (year): $202 million (2000)
2010 Forbes Valuation: $316 million
2010 Forbes Revenue: $113 million
Education: MBA, University of Missouri

Other Business Interests: Kroenke’s purchase in 2000, for a total of $450 million, also included the NHL’s Avalanche and the Pepsi Center, where both the Nuggets and Avalanche play…Those teams, along with the MLS Colorado Rapids, the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, the National Lacrosse League’s Colorado Mammoths, and his majority stake in the English Premiere League’s Arsenal soccer team are grouped under the Kroenke Sports Enterprises umbrella…The Colorado teams are under the name of his son, Josh…Kroenke’s wife, Ann, is the niece of late Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton…He is the chairman of THF Realty, which specializes in suburban development…Owns Napa Valley winery Screaming Eagle…Forbes estimates his worth at $2.6 billion

Notable Team Achievements: The Nuggets have been to the Western Conference playoffs for eight straight seasons, with one appearance in the Western Conference Finals.

Ownership Philosophy: Even before turning over the official leadership to his son, Kroenke was known to be a hands-off owner. He hires people he trusts and expects them to run a team the way it needs to be done. Generally he believes in growing talent rather than paying for it, though he did take on Allen Iverson from the Philadelphia 76ers a few years back.

Minnesota Timberwolves – Glen Taylor

Ownership Group: None
Purchase Price (year): $88.5 million (1995)
2010 Forbes Valuation: $264 million
2010 Forbes Revenue: $95 million
Education: B.S, Minnesota State University

Other Business Interests: Chairman of the NBA’s Board of Governors…Also owns the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx…Chairman and CEO of Taylor Corp, a privately held, Fortune 1000 company based in Mankato, MN specializing in “the interactive, printing, and marketing solutions that have helped build some of the world’s most popular brands.”…Forbes estimates his net worth at $2.2 billion…Has invested in Envoy, a hearing implant, as well as agribusiness in Iowa and Minnesota…Was a state senator in Minnesota.

Notable Team Achievements: The Wolves made the playoffs eight straight years from 1997-2004, reaching the Western Conference Finals once…Was involved in the “Joe Smith fiasco” where Smith agreed to a contract extension with them that was illegal, costing the franchise four first-round picks and were fined $3.5 million.

Ownership Philosophy: Taylor is very trusting and once someone makes his inner circle it takes quite a bit to knock them out. He is loyal, as he was to Kevin McHale for a long time and now to David Kahn. He is willing to take risks – see Smith, Joe – even if they aren’t always the best risks to take, but sometimes they work out, such as allowing the addition of Latrell Sprewell or drafting Ricky Rubio knowing full well they will have to wait for him.

Oklahoma City Thunder – Clayton Bennett

Ownership Group: Bennett and seven others make up The Basketball Club, LLC
Purchase Price (year): $350 million (2006)
2010 Forbes Valuation: $329 million
2010 Forbes Revenue: $118 million
Education: Attended the University of Oklahoma

Other Business Interests: Bennett was part of the San Antonio Spurs ownership group in the early nineties…Now is Chairman of the NBA’s Relocation Committee…Is President of Dorchester Capital, a private investment firm… Bennett is largely blamed for the city of Seattle losing the Sonics to Oklahoma City.

Notable Team Achievements: The Thunder have made the playoffs the past two seasons, reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2011…General manager Sam Presti is regarded as one of the smartest team builders around.

Ownership Philosophy: Under Bennett the franchise chose to rebuild slowly, mainly through the draft. They hit home runs with the picks of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka, and have used their salary cap space judiciously to acquire players like Eric Maynor. They also have issued two of the more interesting contract extensions in recent history this past year, to Kendrick Perkins and Nick Collison.

Portland Trail Blazers – Paul Allen

Ownership Group: None
Purchase Price (year): $70 million (1988)
2010 Forbes Valuation: $356 million
2010 Forbes Revenue: $127 million
Education: Attended Washington State University

{AUTHOR_BOX}Other Business Interests: Allen founded Microsoft along with Bill Gates in 1975 and still owns millions of shares of stock…Is the chairman of Vulcan Capital, the investment arm of Vulcan Inc…Also owns the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, Portland’s Rose Garden Arena…Vulcan Sports and Entertainment, his umbrella corporation for his many interests, also owns a stake in MLS’ Seattle Sounders…Wrote a memoir entitled Idea Man, published in 2011…In 2004 his SpaceShipOne was the first commercial spacecraft to put a civilian in suborbital space…Invested many millions in the redevelopment of Seattle’s South Lake Union area…The Paul G. Allen Foundation donates about $30 million in philanthropy throughout Oregon and Washington. One of the most well-known of these is the Experience Music Project…Forbes estimates his net worth at $13.0 billion.

Notable Team Achievements: Team made playoffs in 18 of 23 seasons Allen has owned the team, winning the Western Conference in 1990 and 1992. Also played in the Western Conference Finals in 1991, 1999, and 2000.

Ownership Philosophy: Allen likes to be involved and weighs in on all decisions, from trades to the draft. He has a group of people he trusts who presents him with options, but ultimately he makes the final decision. Allen is not afraid to spend money if it is warranted, regardless of the luxury tax, or to keep a player really likes.

Utah Jazz – Greg Miller

Ownership Group: Miller is chairman and CEO of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies
Purchase Price (year): $24 million (1985)
2010 Forbes Valuation: $343 million
2010 Forbes Revenue: $121 million
Education: No college

Other Business Interests: The privately held Larry H. Miller Group of Companies also owns car dealerships, movie theaters, EnergySolutions Arena, KFAN radio, KJZZ channel 14, The Fan Sports network, Miller Motorsports Park, and minor league baseball’s Salt Lake City Buzz, among others.

Notable Team Achievements: Since 1985 the Jazz have missed the playoffs just four times. Twice they made it to the NBA Finals – in 1997 and 1998 – and four other times lost in the Western Conference Finals. Point guard John Stockton is the NBA’s all-time leader in assists and steals, and Karl Malone is second all-time in points.

Ownership Philosophy: Jazz ownership typically hires people they trust and allows them to do their job. Under Larry Miller paying the luxury tax was not an option, but since his passing son Greg has amended that to not wanting to, but maybe a little if necessary. The idea is that each business in the Larry H. Miller Group is able to be self-sustaining.

Questions or comments? Leave them below! Also, please leave sources if necessary. Follow Jason Fleming on Twitter, and hit up his weekly chat Monday at 8pm Eastern.