Kevin Johnson: “We Will Fight Like Crazy” to Keep the Kings in Sacramento

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The Maloof brothers are closing in on a deal to sell the Sacramento Kings to a Chris Hansen-led investment group that will move the team to Seattle, but mayor Kevin Johnson wants everybody to know that he’s not giving up without a fight.

“It’s clear there’s a desire and willingness to sell,” said Johnson at a press conference on Wednesday.

However, Johnson claimed that he has been in contact with “many folks” that may put in a bid for the Kings and keep them in Sacramento. The Maloofs are reportedly selling the team for $500 million (for a comparison, the Warriors were sold for $450 million in 2010).

“We need to put ourselves in position to find an ownership group and buyers to keep the team here in Sacramento,” he said. “Sacramento is a proven NBA market. We deserve to be an NBA city. We’re going to fight and we’re used to being in this situation.”

Johnson, who was re-elected for mayor of Sacramento in 2012, spent 14 seasons in the NBA, and was a star for the Phoenix Suns in the late 80′s-mid 90′s. There is no question that he will fight to keep the Kings in Sacramento, but it would be nothing short of a miracle to pull it off.