Showing their appreciation

Sacramento Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof have always taken a different approach when it comes to running a franchise. They’re not like Jerry Reinsdorf. They’re also not like Mark Cuban. They are young, hip and apparently generous. The Maloofs plan to donate $10,000 to Arkansas Baptist as a gift to former Arkansas superstar Corliss Williamson, who retired from the NBA last week.

Williamson, who played for the Kings at the beginning and end of his 11-year career, is now an assistant at the small junior college in Little Rock.

“I think he’s the ultimate standard for a professional athlete now,” Gavin Maloof said. “He’s the consummate professional. You knew he was coming to play every night. He worked hard on the court, and he was dedicated to the team and his family.”

Williamson averaged only 11.1 points per game and his best season came with the Detroit Pistons, but the Maloofs apparently care about more than the bottom line. That’s nice to see.

At the same time, it seems a bit odd that a religious institution would accept money from a couple of casino owners. That doesn’t happen everyday.

Filed under: Arkansas Basketball by Rainer Sabin. Posted on: October 3, 2007 at 2:01 am