NBA Commissioner David Stern had plenty to say about the ongoing Sacramento-Seattle saga during his state of the union address on Saturday night at the Toyota Center.

He reiterated that Seattle’s agreement to buy the Kings and bring them to the Northwest was “strong,” said the Board of Governors would decide between their pitch and Sacramento’s at an April 18 meeting, and insisted that the toxic taste left in the NBA’s mouth when they left Seattle for Oklahoma City in 2008 would have no bearing on the current efforts to bring the league back.

But as Sacramento mayor and former NBA point guard Kevin Johnson saw it, nothing that transpired during his visit to Houston this weekend or that was said by Stern dimmed the continued confidence he has in his efforts to keep his hometown team.

“No, (the weekend) just increased (his confidence),” Johnson told USA TODAY Sports before heading to his seat in the arena. “I’m focused, and I’m confident. Everybody we talk to, they’re rooting for us — whether they’re in the league or not. I feel like we can control our own destiny.

via Sam Amick of USA Today Sports