Joe Maloof says despite lack of arena deal, Kings are not leaving Sacramento

While the Maloofs have backed out of a deal with the city of Sacramento to build a new downtown arena for the Kings, Joe Maloof insists the family does not plan to relocate the team after next season.

The Maloofs nearly left Sacramento for Anaheim after last season, and, in a Q&A with Joe Maloof, the Sacramento Bee asked, “So what's different a year later? A lot of people still suspect your plan is to spend next season in Sacramento and then file for relocation in March.”


“That's not true, that's not true,” Maloof responded. “I swear that is not going to happen. I don't care what rumors are out there. It's our team. We're not selling, and we're not leaving. Our identity is the Sacramento Kings. That's how we're known.”

David Steele: Maloofs’ greed casts pall over sale of Hornets to Tom Benson

The agreement with the city, while never characterized as anything but tentative, seemed like it was a done deal. Gavin, Joe’s brother, cried at a press conference announcing it, and there was even a celebration with Mayor Kevin Johnson at a Kings game. But the Maloofs now feel that it’s a bad deal, and Joe said the family has the backing of most of their fellow NBA owners.

“We got a lot of support (at last week’s owners meetings in New York)," Joe told The Bee. “I can't tell you how many owners came up to me and Gavin and George and told us, ‘You can't do this deal. Stay patient.

"Concentrate on getting your team better. There will be a time for a new arena.’ One owner—and I'm not saying who—said we should do the deal, but that was about it.”

Asked what’s next for the Kings, Joe answered, “We've had our ups and downs like every owner, but we're profitable now, one of four or five teams making money. We have to make some moves this summer and get a high draft pick, and fix our team. We have to get our team better. But we are not going to fold. We are resilient. We're coming to the games. We'll be there (today). We're not outsiders anymore. It's our team, our city. Everything in life is timing."

George Maloof says the team prefers that Mayor Johnson, a former NBA star, be removed from the bargaining process.

“I don't think I'd want to negotiate with the mayor," Maloof told USA Today. "Maybe there's someone else that I'd feel more comfortable with.

"We're disappointed in comments made by the mayor that we feel were shots to us that were unfair and not truthful."

Meanwhile, Chris Lehane, executive director of Think Big, a committee formed by Johnson to keep the Kings in Sacramento, issued a statement to USA Today that contained a bizarre analogy.

"As their bizarre press conference laid bare for all to see, dealing with the Maloofs is like dealing with the North Koreans— except they are less competent," Lehane said. "In Maloof-world, facts are fiction; truths are half-truths; and promises are broken promises. The City of Sacramento deserves better."