The former Suns great turned mayor addresses the speculation.
by Jonathan Santiago / @itsJONsantiago
The filing deadline for NBA relocation to play elsewhere next season is March 1st, less than one week away. And following reports by FanHouse and ESPN over the weekend, speculation of Sacramento Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof filing for relocation to Anaheim has heated up.
Yesterday, Sacramento mayor and one of the NBA’s all-time greats at point guard Kevin Johnson addressed local Sacramento media on rumors circulating around the Kings and Anaheim. Courtesy of Sacramento radio station KFBK, here are audio excerpts of some topics he discussed related to the speculation.
1. Thoughts on Kings to Anaheim rumors and getting the community to continue supporting the them.
2. The arena development team of David Taylor and ICON has been given 90 days to financially and feasibly assess building a new sports and entertainment complex in Sacramento. On moving forward with that team regardless of the Maloofs future involvement.
3. On David Stern and the perception that the commissioner no longer believes Sacramento is worth spending time on.
4. On Sacramento and the similarities to Seattle.
5. On convincing or lobbying other NBA teams to vote against the Kings relocation to Anaheim.
6. On economic impact that could be felt by Sacramento if the Kings leave town.
7. On what having a professional basketball team in Sacramento meant to him during his playing days.
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