Sacramento Kings' finale has an air of finality

The Kings' last game of the season — a 116-108 loss to the Lakers — might have been their last game in Sacramento. Many fans seem resigned to the strong possibility that the team will move to Anaheim.



By Lance Pugmire
April 13, 2011, 11:34 p.m.

A Sacramento Kings fan holds a sign in support of the Kings during Wednesday's game against the Lakers. (Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images / April 13, 2011)

Reporting from Sacramento — If you're a Southern California NBA fan poised to celebrate the official establishment of the region as hoops heaven with the arrival of a third league team, Wednesday in this town represented the far grimmer side of the coin.

The Sacramento Kings, the state capital's only major league team, played what could be their final home game Wednesday night before roaring fans attached to the team for 26 years, leaving raucous full houses, clanging cowbells and a near NBA Finals appearance in the memory bank.

The Kings' proposed conversion to the Anaheim Royals is set to be presented to the NBA's Board of Governors in New York on Thursday by team owners Joe and Gavin Maloof.

"Fans are the people who get hit the hardest," said Kings Coach Paul Westphal, a USC product and longtime Southern Californian so sensitive to Sacramento's "slow death," as Mayor Kevin Johnson has called it, he declined out of community respect to discuss a three-team Southland future.

"I hate to see fans who've supported their team lose their home team," said Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, who once chided Sacramento as a "cow town." "They've been great fans. Very vocal. Very smart."

A visit around the state capital Wednesday revealed the depth of the connection.

There's an airport sports apparel store stocked with Kings gear and a swaying team banner greeting all visitors. At landmark barbecue diner Texas West, the walls have framed pictures of Joe Maloof and a slew of players who've visited.

Then there was the public gathering at the home finale against the bitter-rival Lakers, where talk of small-market TV revenue and an aging arena was left to the accountants.

"They were our ambassadors, they gave Sacramento major league credibility," said fan Ken Nicholson, wearing a 1980s Kings windbreaker. "When you've had something like that for a long time and you lose it, it hurts."

Jon Lerno, a Lakers fan who moved north from Huntington Beach, said he's struck by the decision to abandon the loyalty here "to be the third horse in a three-horse town."

Gary Rickles, 41, and his teenage son, A.J., have come to Kings games since A.J. was old enough to understand the game. The elder Rickles had tears in his eyes Wednesday as his son held a "Here We Stay" banner meant to rally the loyalists, and each signed a petition to help keep the team.

"This was our thing," Gary Rickles said. "It's a foregone conclusion they're gone, and I don't think they'll have another big league team here again in my lifetime."

Fretting about reductions of their television deals and ticket sales, Lakers owner Jerry Buss and Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling are expected to vehemently oppose the Kings' move to Honda Center.

The Lakers are especially concerned because they're already on the hook for a hefty NBA revenue-sharing bill and now confront something close to a $250-million deduction from the reported $3-billion TV deal the team struck with Time Warner because of a "third team in Southern California" clause.

At what could've been the Kings' final shoot-around in Sacramento on Wednesday, forward Donte Greene blew a kiss to the team's practice facility while leaving the court.

"There's a lot of uncertainty with us," Greene said. "Guys have houses here and don't know if we should pack up to move." At the game, Greene thanked the sellout crowd for being "the greatest fans in the NBA."

Mayor Johnson, a former NBA guard, said he'll provide documentation in New York of expanded Sacramento business sponsorship interest in the NBA. Ex-King Chris Webber has even offered to buy the team.

"It's more probable than not they're going to Anaheim," Johnson said. "I just have to show why it makes good business sense to have Sacramento in the league."

Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait and Honda Center operator and Ducks owner Henry Samueli will also attend the Board of Governors meeting. Samueli is backing $75 million in bonds Anaheim approved to upgrade the arena and fund Kings relocation expenses last week.

The leader of the California Senate on Monday introduced a bill that would require the Maloofs to repay a $77-million loan to Sacramento before exiting.

A majority of the 29 teams needs to approve the Kings' relocation request for it to move toward final passage of NBA owners.

Buss' clout versus other owners' acknowledgement that good business trumps sentimentality are expected to be in play.

The relocation presentation will precede the Maloofs' formal application to move, which is due by Monday, and then the Board of Governors will have 120 days to decide.

"If we go home, I'm happy," said Kings guard Pooh Jeter, a Gardena Serra High School graduate. "But this is all Sacramento has. They'll be devastated, man."