Leading Off: Are Maloofs the best owners for the Kings?

When Gavin and Joe Maloof bought the Kings in 1998, they took over a team that was emerging from a long stretch of mediocrity.

Geoff Petrie was already in as general manager, and he soon hired Rick Adelman as coach. In Adelman's first year, the roster included Vlade Divac, Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic and Jason Williams, a group that quickly developed a national following and winning reputation. By 2001-02, Mike Bibby and Doug Christie were added, and the Kings won the Pacific Division before losing that memorable seven-game Western Conference finals series to the Lakers.

Those were heady times for the Kings and Sacramento, and the Maloofs were regular courtside fixtures, cheering for their team along with 17,000-plus fans at Arco Arena. The brothers were seen on national TV, in commercials, seemingly everywhere; they were self-made celebrities.

But by the time a sales-tax measure to fund a new arena was defeated by voters in 2006, the Kings had already begun their descent back into mediocrity. Attendance and the team's payroll soon plummeted, too. Last year, the Maloofs nearly moved the team to Anaheim.

Now, with the Kings' future in Sacramento up in the air, the Maloofs are speaking volumes by saying nothing about their financial contribution for a new arena, deferring to the NBA and Commissioner David Stern.

So, ask yourself: Are the Maloofs the right owners for this team, in this city, at this critical time?

What to watch

NBA, Oklahoma City at Kings, 7:30 p.m., TNT: Check out what the national broadcasters say about the Kings.

What to do

College basketball, Montana State at Sacramento State, 7:05 p.m., Hornets Nest: Can the Hornets extend a season-best three-game winning streak?

Today's poll

Should the Maloofs sell the Kings?

• Yes

• No

Vote above or leave your comments in the comment field; Or, go to www.sacbee.com/sports

Wednesday's results

What was the best part about Super Bowl XLVI?

• The game: 63%

• Madonna's halftime show: 18%

• The commercials: 19%

Total votes: 368

The last word

What you're saying on sacbee.com comments:

• "Sure it is disappointing to lose, but this was not a disappointing loss. … If this young team … continues to fight like this every game the Kings are going to build that winning formula we so desperately crave." – Bro Brah on "Rally falls short; win streak ends"

• Read more articles by Tom Couzens

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