Sacramento Kings Aren't Moving to Anaheim, NBA Commissioner David Stern Says

Ever since the Maloof family—owners of the Sacramento Kings—filed to relocate the team to Anaheim after the 2011 season, there have been fears among many Kings fans that they might have intentions to try and leave again in the near future.

The Maloofs backing out of the most recent arena proposal didn't make Kings fans feel any more comfortable about the team's future in California's capitol.  

But NBA Commissioner David Stern gave Kings fans a little solace on Wednesday, after making it clear that the owners of other NBA teams would not vote in favor of a relocation, at least to Anaheim. 

"If there was a vote now there would be no support for a move, and I believe the ownership that says they're planning to stay there," Stern told David Aldridge of TNT at the press conference before game one of the 2012 NBA Finals, after Aldridge asked about the the possibility of the Kings relocating to Anaheim.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson–who led the charge to get a new arena built in Sacramento–quickly released a statement in response to Stern's comments that was aired on Sacramento's News10. 

"Sacramento may have the fifth pick in the draft, but we remain a top pick with the Commissioner," Johnson wrote. "We appreciate his commitment to the best fans in the NBA." 

While the arena is still an ongoing issue–one that has an unpredictable outcome–at least Kings fans have an answer to one of their many unanswered questions regarding the future location of their team.

To be fair, Stern technically only ruled out a move to Anaheim.

But even being able to cross one potential relocation off the list is a win to many fans of the Kings.

It's a win to the fans who saw their team's owners file a trademark for the name Anaheim Royals not much more than a year ago.