I am disgusted by the wide-ranging Maloof-bashing occuring in the Sacramento media. Joe and Gavin, hands down, are the best owners in the National Basketball Association, and it seems they can do no right anymore in the community's collective mind. Did it ever occur to anyone, "Wow, this team quite literally was a doormat just a handfull of years ago." And, upon completing that thought, "Wow, I should pray to the temple of Maloof, and thank them everyday for the endless joy I bask in daily knowing our team is a perennial playoff contender." And what are they bashed for? Only having a poor relationship with Rick Adelman. Relationships are a two-way street, and from what I gather in the sports media, Adelman wasn't very communicative with the team's owners. Despite that, they employed him for eight consecutive seasons - one of the longest tenures of any coach in the NBA. They made him one of the highest paid coaches in the league. Adelman is a multi-millionaire. In an era when sports is a business, Adelman was granted (albeit not in his final season) a respect nearly unparalleled by his peers. But like most business arrangements, the Maloofs felt a change was necessary and vital. They tried to secure Phil Jackson...who wouldn't? Understandably, Adelman's feeling were hurt...but it's just business. And yet still, the Maloofs did not fire Adelman...they allowed him to finish the remainder of his contract. And when the decision was made to change coaches? The Maloofs acted swiftly and granted Adelman the opportunity to coach for another team. Again, despite the rocky relationship, they never bad-mouthed Adelman, never disparaged him, never fired him.
Although the Maloofs made some missteps in attempting to discharge Adelman and replace him with someone more communicative, more willing to take slacking players to task, more willing to fight in the media for the team's respect...they tried to bring to an end the offensively-oriented Sacramento Kings era, and usher in a more defensive style, with grace. And what else could you ask for?
I am proud of the owners, and I respect them immensely.
Although the Maloofs made some missteps in attempting to discharge Adelman and replace him with someone more communicative, more willing to take slacking players to task, more willing to fight in the media for the team's respect...they tried to bring to an end the offensively-oriented Sacramento Kings era, and usher in a more defensive style, with grace. And what else could you ask for?
I am proud of the owners, and I respect them immensely.