So you want to know if the Maloofs still own the Sacramento Kings? Grab a seat. Let's dive into this spicy, weird, and wonderfully dramatic story. It’s a tale of cowboy boots, failed casinos, and a billion-dollar bailout.
The Maloofs: A Family So Wild, You Couldn't Make Them Up
The Maloof family was notorious. They weren't just owners; they were characters. Think Succession but with more tequila and fewer boardroom suits. They rolled into games with a posse, looking like rock stars in a basketball world.
They had a legendary party palace at Arco Arena. It had a bowling alley. A hair salon. And a private club where they’d hang with celebs. It was less basketball and more a billionaire's backyard playhouse.
Must Read
But here's the kicker: the Maloofs were broke. Well, not "broke" broke, but "bad-at-business" broke. Their casino empire in Las Vegas? A massive flop. Their beer distribution? Sold. They were bleeding money faster than a leaky faucet.
The Great Sacramento Escape Plan
So what do desperate owners do? They try to steal the team. The Maloofs wanted to move the Kings to Anaheim. They flirted with Seattle. They even tried to get a deal to move to Las Vegas, their hometown. Sacramento fans were furious.
Imagine this: a whole city wearing purple and black, screaming "Stay!" The mayor at the time, Kevin Johnson, begged for a local buyer. The NBA stepped in. They said, "You can't just abandon a loyal fanbase." It was a messy, public, and beautiful showdown.
In 2013, the Maloofs finally gave up. They sold the team for a record-breaking $534 million. That was a huge sum back then. It was like selling your slightly-broken Ferrari for a mint. They walked away with stacks of cash, but zero street cred in Sacramento.
Who Owns the Kings Now? Hint: It’s Not the Maloofs
The new owner is a tech billionaire named Vivek Ranadivé. He runs a software company. He’s the antithesis of the Maloofs. No bowling alleys. No loud parties in the owner's suite. Just a quiet, brainy guy who loves data.
Report: NBA pressuring Maloofs to sell Sacramento Kings to Seattle
Ranadivé didn't just buy the team. He built a jaw-dropping new arena downtown. It’s called the Golden 1 Center. It has solar panels. It makes its own beer. It’s basically a spaceship for basketball. Fans go nuts for it.
And the team? They’re actually good now. Under Ranadivé, they made the playoffs. They drafted star players. The whole vibe shifted from "please don't leave" to "we're here to win." It’s a full-on renaissance.
The Maloofs Today: Where Are They Now?
So what happened to the Maloofs after they sold? They went quiet. Real quiet. They still own a tiny slice of the team (less than 1%), but they have zero say in anything. They’re just ghost owners with a check.
They tried other business ventures. A hotel. A music venue. Nothing stuck. Their family fortune, once estimated at over $1 billion, shrank. They're still rich, but not "buy-a-basketball-team" rich. Karma is a funny thing.
One funny detail: the Maloof family is still very Catholic. They have 11 kids between the three brothers. Their mom, Colleen, ran the family charity. But even the Pope couldn't save their ownership of the Kings.
Why This Story Is Pure Gold
This isn't just a business story. It’s a drama. It’s a story of ego, money, and a city that refused to give up. The Maloofs thought they had all the power. They didn't. The fans won.
Maloofs complete sale of Kings to Vivek Ranadive group at record
Imagine if the Maloofs still owned the team today. They’d probably still be playing in that old, dark arena. The team would be stuck in mediocrity. No playoffs. No star players. Just weird haircuts and bad PR.
Instead, Sacramento has a shiny new toy. The Golden 1 Center even has a giant screen that shows real-time stats. It’s so high-tech, the Maloofs would probably be confused by the Wi-Fi. They’d ask for a fax machine.
The Quirky Takeaway
So, final answer: No, the Maloofs do not own the Sacramento Kings. They haven't for a decade. Vivek Ranadivé is the king of the castle now. And he’s doing a stellar job.
But we should thank the Maloofs. They made the story exciting. They gave us a villain. They gave Sacramento a reason to fight. Without their mess, the Kings might have just been another boring, small-market team.
Now, every time you see a Kings game, remember the drama. Remember the bowties. Remember the failed casinos. And smile. Because the bad guys lost. And the good guys built a spaceship.
Here’s the cherry on top: The Maloofs still live in Las Vegas. They occasionally go to Kings games as fans. They sit far from the court. They eat hot dogs. It’s delicious.