David Stern said Seattle didn't have the same type of city leadership before the Sonics' relocation to Oklahoma City that saved the Kings from leaving Sacramento.

“Mayor Kevin Johnson was out there doing whatever had to be done,” Stern said. “In Seattle, the speaker of the Seattle house said our players should take a cut in pay and put the money into a fund to help build the building. That’s nothing we had to work with. I did the same things in Seattle that I did in Sacramento, but there was a leader in Sacramento, Kevin Johnson, who was intent on keeping that team.”

Seattle had previously made financial commitments to new stadiums for the Seahawks and Mariners.

“(Johnson) was differently motivated, because there had been huge subsidies from (Seattle) for the baseball team and football team to build their two buildings. Our basketball was the third man in. In Sacramento, this was the game. The city was very proud and had been very supportive.”

Stern said the Oklahoma City-based owners tried to keep the Sonics in Seattle.

“I was satisfied as commissioner that (Clay Bennett) was making a good-faith effort, and he would’ve been held to it if he was successful.”