By now, you’ve probably heard how the NBA relocation committee unanimously voted Monday afternoon to block Seattle’s bid to buy the Sacramento Kings and bring the NBA back to the Emerald City.
An investment group led by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and hedge fund manager Chris Hansen had already reached an agreement with the Maloof family (current owners) in January to buy 65 percent of the Kings for a reported $341 million.
But Sacramento came back with its own investment group and arena plan, and the NBA’s relocation committee believes that the Kings should stay in California.
League owners will make an official vote May 13, but that’s expected to be a formality.
It was a seriously blow to Seattle’s chance of getting an NBA team this fall, as there may never be a better opportunity to get pro hoops back in this city, as Ballmer said last week.
But there’s still hope, at least according to Hansen, who penned a blog post late Monday night, writing that the Seattle group “has absolutely no plans to give up.”
Here’s some of the reaction on Twitter last night:
I’ve never been prouder of this city. I thank the ownership group, city leaders, but most of all the BEST FANS IN THE NBA!!!
— Kevin Johnson (@KJ_MayorJohnson) April 29, 2013
That's what I'm talking about SACRAMENTO!!!!! WE DID IT!!!!!
— Kevin Johnson (@KJ_MayorJohnson) April 29, 2013
That’s what I’m talking about SACRAMENTO!!!!! WE DID IT!!!!!
— Kevin Johnson (@KJ_MayorJohnson) April 29, 2013
We F’ing did it…oh my god…#HereWeStay
— Sactown Royalty (@sactownroyalty) April 29, 2013
I’m speechless. Thanks to all of the amazing people who supported this great effort. We still have work to do but – #HereWeStay
— Vivek Ranadivé (@Vivek) April 29, 2013
We’re going to stay focused on our job: making sure #Seattle remains in a position to get a team when the opportunity presents itself.
— Mayor McGinn (@mayormcginn) April 29, 2013
real shit the sonics was one of the few things a kid from an immigrant family like me had in common w ppl who I otherwise couldn’t relate to
— Prometheus Brown (@prometheusbrown) April 30, 2013
Hey Seattle, let’s buy the entire NBA and pick our favorite team to move here.
— Cory Bergman (@corybe) April 29, 2013
To repeat: Seattle is to the #NBA what Los Angeles is to the #NFL. A tool.@arenaseattle
— Art Thiel (@Art_Thiel) April 30, 2013
I just feel like no matter how often this shit happens to us, Seattle is destined to win. No matter how long it takes. There is always hope.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) April 29, 2013
If your radio had a face, you’ll want to punch that face next. David Stern talks about the #KIngs #Sonics story next on @sportsradiokjr
— Dave Softy Mahler (@Softykjr) April 30, 2013
I will go to my grave CONVINCED that the NBA owners knowingly took an inferior deal for the sake of their commissioner and status quo.
— mitch levy (@kjrmitch) April 29, 2013
Just got off the phone with Steve Ballmer.He is “horribly, horribly disappointed” in this news.
— mitch levy (@kjrmitch) April 29, 2013
I’m happy Sacramento kept the Kings. They did everything they could to keep ’em. But Seattle still needs a team. So what are we doing, DJS?
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 29, 2013
NW sports fans are 1 of a kind, & they did an amazing job of competing for the #Sonics to return. So unfortunate the NBA didn’t see it fit
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) April 29, 2013
Congrats Kings fans who fought hard for their team. SEA is far from done. We’re just getting started. @nba can still solve this. #Expansion
— Sonicsgate (@Sonicsgate) April 29, 2013
I got the pain in SEA when the Sonics left. I really get it now. The proposed ownership group and the city did everything asked.
— Scott Howard-Cooper (@SHowardCooper) April 29, 2013
Drinking a beer and throwing darts at a picture of David Stern. #Sonics
— Road Dog’s Brew Tour (@SeaBreweryTour) April 30, 2013
NBA says NO – what a surprise, but i believe the Sonics are not done yet. Believe!
— Detlef Schrempf (@Dschrempf) April 30, 2013
I can only hope the NBA’s 12-0 means expansion team for Seattle soon. It’s such an obvious solution to make everyone happy.
— Jim Caple (@jimcaple) April 29, 2013
This doesn’t hurt as badly as losing the #Sonics in 2008, but it’s still really painful.
— Jeff Brown (@Jome20) April 29, 2013
We fought very hard & we’re not done fighting. This hurts bad. We won’t have the Sonics back in 2013. But I still believe we will get a team
— Seattle SuperSonics (@BringBackSonics) April 29, 2013
