How Could Anybody Say the Maloofs Are the Best Owners in the NBA?
We’re a week late with this one, but in a pre-NBA Finals interview filmed on a balcony in South Beach, ESPN’s Henry Abbott interviewed ESPN’s David Thorpe. The questions came in rapid-fire form and were occasionally random (chances you’ll work for an NBA team? 8.1%), and then came this:
Q: Best owner in the NBA?
A: “You’re going to laugh at this, probably, but I think the Maloofs in Sacramento are amazing. They let their people do their thing, and if they fail, it’s on them, and if they succeed its on them.”
Well, he’s certainly right about the laughing part. Downright hysterical. I didn’t detect sarcasm, but perhaps I simply missed it.
The Maloofs are idiots. They’re brothers who inherited big bucks, recently bricked badly in Vegas and tried to get out of a mess by taking the Kings from Sacramento. How are the Maloofs amazing NBA owners? I guess Thorpe doesn’t read his ESPN colleague Bill Simmons.
The Kings haven’t been nearly as smart or lucky. Suddenly, it’s the arena’s fault. You know, because the arena told them to trade Kevin Martin for half his value, or spend one-fourth of their payroll on Beno Udrih and Francisco Garcia …
Webber’s demise triggered a chain of events that eventually turned Sacramento into the NBA’s Pittsburgh Pirates. Only in this past season did Kings fans start seriously worrying about losing their team — not just because their owners were overleveraged but because they had little faith in Stern, who looked the other way after Game 6′s officiating fiasco in 2002, then again as the Sonics were stolen, then again these past 12 months as the Maloofs did everything short of putting their office equipment on Craigslist.
During the lockout, when there’s nothing to write about, and the media starts doing lists of the best and worst owners … my guess is the Maloofs check in around the 24-29 range.
David Thorpe probably wishes he had a mulligan on this question. He has to, right?
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65 Responses to “How Could Anybody Say the Maloofs Are the Best Owners in the NBA?”
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June 7th, 2011 at 12:45 PM
FAIL.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Man, Whitlock just ripped into Skip Bayless today. I’m a Lebron hater to the core, but that was a great article and Whitlock made some great points.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Mark Jackson to coach the Warriors, I’m not sure how I feel about that yet but I liked him as a Pacer.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Also…I’d go with Cuban or Buss for best owner.
/ not in the running – Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
June 7th, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Mama….there goes that man.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:49 PM
What good is the interview if the guy interviewing works for the same company as the guy getting interviewed?
June 7th, 2011 at 12:50 PM
James Dolan!
June 7th, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Peter Holt.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:50 PM
There is something to be said for hiring someone to run basketball operations and letting them do their job. But you better be ready to take the heat if you hire the wrong people.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Q: Best owner in the NBA?
It was going to be Dolan, but he has not hired Isiah yet.
/you know it
June 7th, 2011 at 12:51 PM
(03 seconds left in the game)
Mark Jackson: Alright Stephen, hand down, man down! You gotta get into the lane and show him MAMA THERE GO THAT MAN!
(After Curry misses the game winner)
Jackson: Stephen Curry, you’re better than dat!
June 7th, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Abott’s a fucking hack, I hate that guy.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:55 PM
Good video checking outt he top flops of the NBA playoffs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9U0X9VKdDY&feature=player_embedded
June 7th, 2011 at 12:57 PM
At least they didn’t hire mark jackson.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:57 PM
Sounds like the Maloofs comped this guy a few nights in a Vegas suite, complete with 2 hookers and a line of credit. Only way anyone could think their job in charge of the Kings has been anything but disastrous.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:57 PM
Tom Gores is the best…
DANCER
June 7th, 2011 at 12:58 PM
I would love to hear the opinion of someone that is a Kings fan on this topic.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:58 PM
or Kevin Mchale.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:58 PM
BTW, Jackson just beat out Mike Brown & the Lakers for Hornets’ assistant Mike Malone — who was key to the improvement in the Hornets’ defense all last season.
So at least, Jackson’s not a complete idiot. He knows he needs help.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:59 PM
Also…I’d go with Cuban or Buss for best owner.
As much as people hate him, Cuban is the logical choice. The Lakers were a cash cow before Jerry Buss bought them, no? (from Jack Kent Cooke, maybe?).
Before Cubes got the Mavs, they were playing in front of hundreds of people and winning on in five games they played.
Now, they’re filling the arena on nights when they’re playing in Miami, and making money off of those concessions. Although none of the big free agents ever went to go there. He has to make deals to get whoever he gets.
Paul Allen is probably in the running, too.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:59 PM
NBC retains the Olympics. I hope all of you will be happy when you’re watching 50 percent of it on tape delay in 2014 and 2016.
June 7th, 2011 at 12:59 PM
I would love to hear the opinion of someone that is a Kings fan on this topic.
good luck finding a Kings fan on this site. Or anywhere these days.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:00 PM
Here you go.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:00 PM
NBC retains the Olympics. I hope all of you will be happy when you’re watching 50 percent of it on tape delay in 2014 and 2016.
Did I have a vote and forget to cast it?
June 7th, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Hopefully Doc Emmerick is dead by 2014.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Can I get a breakdown of that video — corporate ‘merica blocks youtube for me.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:02 PM
YAY NBC! YAY DOC!
Rumors from Mr. Lepore that we might get Bill Clement for some winter games. That’d be sweet.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:02 PM
Just stating the obvious: worst owner in the NBA, hands down, no question or debate, is Donald Sterling.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:03 PM
Did I write the olympic committee a check on behalf of dick ebersol?
yes, yes i did.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:03 PM
same reason you get away with saying some of the stuff you say…free speech.
also, im pretty sure david thorpe is mentally challenged.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Sounds like the question Thorpe was REALLY answering was “Which owner has the best management style?”. Because then, Thorpe’s answer makes sense.
What make a “best” owner depends on what you’re talking about.
I’m sure there are owners in sports that are making money hand over fist, which makes them great business people. But if they are negligent in stewarding the on field product, what good are they?
June 7th, 2011 at 1:04 PM
worse than james dolan? probably…
June 7th, 2011 at 1:04 PM
BANG!!
June 7th, 2011 at 1:07 PM
MJ.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:07 PM
Clement is certainly available, since the Flyers went belly up. He was doing color commentary and studio work for CSNPhilly for the Flyers.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:07 PM
Sterling fails as a human being and as a sports owner, IMO.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:07 PM
They were talking about this on the radio this morning, sounded good to me. Time will tell though, this team isn’t exactly filled with defensive stalwarts…
June 7th, 2011 at 1:07 PM
Ha.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:08 PM
dolan fails both AND he fails as a blues “musician” too.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:08 PM
USA going to beat down Canadia in soccer tonight.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:09 PM
Yeah, he bought the team and the Forum from Cooke. Struggled to get the money together, but it looks like it paid off. JKC was a great owner IMO. Did a great job with the ‘Skins as well. Although he utterly botched the handoff to his son, and a fucking mutant swooped in and bought it. Thus ruining ‘Skins fandom for generations to come.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:11 PM
No love for Rich DeVos..HE found Amway!
June 7th, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Which is why I would wholeheartedly support soccer-style demotion in all sports. These fucks couldn’t make money in the minors.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:12 PM
NBC retains the Olympics. I hope all of you will be happy when you’re watching 50 percent of it on tape delay in 2014 and 2016.
I know the guy personally who’s going to be in charge of this for NBC, and he’s no slouch.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:16 PM
Did a great job with the ‘Skins as well.
Yes, yes he did. They used to be a model franchise. Now, thankfully, they are not. That insecure little fucker. They still beat Dallas way too much for my tastes though.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:17 PM
Team Gores
June 7th, 2011 at 1:19 PM
Hey-zues H. I don’t mind, I can’t watch during the day. I’d rather watch when I get home without knowing…
June 7th, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Trying to switch over to the Ravens going forward. Hard to make it stick though. Gonna be tough.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Are you and Simmons evaluating the owners or the GM re: that trade and the two shitty signings?
June 7th, 2011 at 1:21 PM
How fucking stupid is ESPN to allow this to happen?
June 7th, 2011 at 1:23 PM
ugh. I don’t really have an opinion on the Maloofs, but I had to come in here to get away from that Bryce Harper pic on the frontpage. don’t mind me…I’ll just hang out over by the water fountain.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:23 PM
(Business or sports business and legal nerds like me)
It will be interesting to see how they get that thing up. There is literally zero money and California laws have basically strained all sources…It’s gonna have to go to a vote. That’s usually a death sentence.
/Seattle Kings
June 7th, 2011 at 1:24 PM
The most absurd thing about the Maloofs is their desire to remain hip whilst being in their late 50s.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:25 PM
Re Olympics tape delay… Seriously, during work hours I couldnt really give a shit if they are showing sports live or not, I’m gonna see the results posted online before I’ll be able to watch anyway
June 7th, 2011 at 1:26 PM
Trying to switch over to the Ravens going forward. Hard to make it stick though. Gonna be tough.
I find it easy to root for the Ravens because they play good defense (maybe not good secondary play last year) and run the ball. The only part I can’t stand is Flacco, and how much he gets mollycoddled by media figures who decided he was “elite” based on a playoff win, and can’t back off of their “elite” assessment, no matter how poorly he plays, and for how long.
Also, I have a pretty healthy dislike for Pittsburgh.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:27 PM
/twirls sock full of quarters menacingly
June 7th, 2011 at 1:27 PM
USA going to beat down Canadia in soccer tonight.
Only if the officials fail to correctly interpret the offsides rule again.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:27 PM
I don’t really have an opinion on the Maloofs, but I had to come in here to get away from that Bryce Harper pic on the frontpage. don’t mind me…I’ll just hang out over by the water fountain.
do you want to hear about how my mom plays me obsessively in WWF now, so that I can barely breathe, and wantonly and actively cheats on every single turn? She plays the one where it tells you the best play, and she just plays that over and over and over. It’s maddening.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:30 PM
sounds like your mom is out-strategizing you. embarassing.
June 7th, 2011 at 1:30 PM
Why would you want to play your mom in WWF if you know she’s cheating?
June 7th, 2011 at 1:32 PM
because she’s…
OH MY GOD, THAT’S STONE COLD’S MUSIC!!!
June 7th, 2011 at 1:50 PM
Why would you want to play your mom in WWF if you know she’s cheating?
so I don’t have to talk to her on the telephone, obviously. But she’s even clingy in WWF.
June 7th, 2011 at 2:54 PM
Don’t know much of Abbott’s work but he did a great job reporting on World Wide Wes and was really the first guy to bring up the possible unethical relationships he has helped foster throughout the years.
June 7th, 2011 at 4:49 PM
No one is worse than Dolan in NY. NO ONE.
June 7th, 2011 at 5:14 PM
Agreed Michaele. Maloofs/Buffons are close though. Henry Abbott is a tool so I’m not sure he didn’t “twist” the answer or take it out of context.