Owning the Kings in a Lakers town

By Brett Okamoto

Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 | midnight

When the Maloof family took its seats on the floor of the Thomas & Mack Center nine years ago for an NBA preseason game between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers, the family couldn’t help but feel a little lonely.

Yes, there were more than 17,000 fans in attendance with them. But looking around, they noticed few were cheering for the same team they were.

“When the teams first played in Las Vegas, 99 percent of the arena were Lakers fans because they’re kind of the home team,” George Maloof Jr. said. “But as we started winning, it got much better. It never evened out but it got pretty close.”

With Sacramento turning in an NBA-worst 17 wins last season, the lowest in franchise history, George Maloof is expecting a similar Lakers-friendly crowd Thursday when the two teams meet in Las Vegas for the eighth time this decade.

The annual Las Vegas battle between the two began the same year they became entrenched in one of the biggest rivalries in the league.

After enduring a 27-win season in 1997, the Kings went on a run of eight-straight postseason appearances from 1999 to 2006.

The preseason rivalry peaked in 2003, when the game reached a sellout crowd of 18,234. The Kings won that game 93-87.

Of course the Maloofs were on-hand to see it, as the tradition has come to encompass a group of 15 to 20 people gathering at the Palms before traveling to the arena.

“I remember that game, we’ve had a couple close ones like that,” George Maloof said. “You don’t set your season on that one game, but it’s great to win it. And it’s great to put on a performance for the fans in Las Vegas because they don’t get to experience pro basketball.”

The games have been notoriously close, all decided by seven points or fewer. Sacramento holds a slight edge, winning four to Los Angeles’ three, although the Lakers have won three of the past four.

As exciting as the well-attended matchup has been for fans, none are happier to see the team travel to Las Vegas than the Maloofs.

The Maloofs are well aware of the fact that a majority of their hometown pledges loyalty to the Lakers. The Los Angeles team has a storied history in Las Vegas, including moving a playoff game to the Thomas & Mack Center in 1992 due to riots. Still, that didn't stop them from obtaining full ownership of the team in 1999.

Purchasing an NBA franchise had been a goal of the Maloofs since their decision to sell the Houston Rockets in 1982. In 2002, the Maloofs became the only ownership group in the league’s history to take two different teams to the Western Conference Finals.

According to Gavin Maloof, who serves as the most hands-on owner alongside his brother, Joe, the dedication to winning games applies to preseason games as much as regular season ones.

Especially those that come against the Lakers.

“It is frustrating to hear Lakers fans. We’re not in this to like the Lakers -- that’s our enemy on the floor,” Gavin said. “We’ve always played well in Las Vegas and we play the game to win. A lot of teams are trying to look at a lot of players in the preseason.

“I don’t know if they are counting on winning, but we are.”

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or [email protected].