David Stern on state of the league
by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY
HOUSTON — NBA commissioner David Stern met members of the press on Saturday at the Toyota Center to discuss several topics regarding the league.
In his final state of the game address Stern acknowledged the league has received a bid from a Seattle group to buy and subsequently move the Sacramento Kings.
He said he met with the mayor of Seattle and “we fully expect” process to be completed for report to board in April.”
Stern said he has assurances from Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson the league would receive a plan that would include a competitive bid and plans for a new building “well before March 1″.
One media member stated the Kings situation was strictly about economics before asking a follow up question, to which Stern replied: “I don’t think it’s going to come down to economics.”
Stern indicated the nothing in the Kings situation is a done deal at this point.
“It’s plausible to me (if Sacramento has a chance to keep the team), but I don’t have a vote,” he said. “I expect the owners have an open mind on this.”
One of the truer statements he made regarding the situation was: “I don’t see any scenario where both cities are happy.” That seemed to indicate that the league would not expand to add Seattle. When asked directly about expansion, he joked he would leave all that to the next commissioner Adam Silver, who was sitting beside Stern on the stage.
He was asked about performance enhancing drugs, and said “”We have a comprehensive drug-testing program.” He went on to say he expects HGH testing protocol to be agreed upon for next season.
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