The Maloof family has confirmed through a written statement that the Kings will remain in Sacramento for the 2011-12 NBA season. Monday was the Maloofs' deadline to file for relocation; the family had been in discussions with Anaheim's Honda Center for several months after the latest arena plan in Sacramento -- spearheaded by the NBA -- fell apart.
But Sacramento fought for the Kings, with Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former All-NBA guard, drumming up $10 million in new corporate sponsorships to convince the league to give the city another chance. The mayor now waits for a feasibility study on a downtown arena, due in late May.
In the Maloofs' statement, the ball is put in Johnson's court to come up with an arena plan.
"If an arena plan cannot be finalized in a timely fashion, the NBA¹s relocation committee has assured Maloof Sports and Entertainment that it will support an application to move the franchise to another market starting in 2012-13," the statement read.
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