Steve Belkin, former captain of his high school basketball team and the NBA's newest owner-to-be, said he shoots around on this court as often as he can. "I don't move as well as I used to," Belkin, 56, said with a laugh. "My shots are still pretty good."

That's why Belkin, the largest single investor in the eight-headed ownership team that purchased the Hawks, Thrashers and operating rights to Philips Arena last week, had no trouble challenging Jason Terry to a game of H-O-R-S-E a day after the deal was announced.

For 20 years, Belkin has been working towards his goal of becoming a professional sports franchise owner.

He came close to owning the Boston Celtics in 1983, signing an agreement to buy the team, but backed out after some negative publicity surrounding one of his employees stripped the joy from his endeavor.

He came close to getting the Charlotte expansion franchise last year, joining one of the few teams with NBA legend Larry Bird that didn't win.

Losing out to BET founder and billionaire Robert Johnson last December hurt Belkin so deeply that he nearly gave up his quest to join that special fraternity known as the NBA board of governors.

"It was one of the low points of my life, " Belkin said. "I had to ask, 'How much do I really want this? Is this not how it was supposed to be? Is this a message that I should shift my dream?' I came to the conclusion: No."

Belkin persisted. He flirted some with the Milwaukee Bucks, and he contacted AOL Time Warner shortly after the company mentioned that it would be selling some "non-core assets" last February. Belkin studied the books and was interested in making a move before David McDavid entered into exclusive negotiations to buy the teams and the arena rights. Buying the Hawks didn't enter his mind again until he received a phone call about three weeks ago.

And, 10 months after his low, comes "this incredible high point," he said.