Kevin Johnson: Sacramento will be allowed to present to NBA Board of Governors

Kevin Johnson addressed the media Tuesday morning as part of the State of Downtown Breakfast. He addressed the city's efforts to keep the Kings, and revealed the huge news that David Stern will allow the Mayor to address the NBA Board of Governors and plead Sacramento's case.

Thanks to various friends-of-StR, here are the choice bits:

KJ says he's going to steal a little bit of SF mayor Gavin Newsome's playbook

— Aaron Bruski (@aaronbruski) January 15, 2013

"We heard that Hansen and Ballmer were going to put out an outrageous number"

— Aaron Bruski (@aaronbruski) January 15, 2013

"As strange as it sounds, this was good news for our community."

— Aaron Bruski (@aaronbruski) January 15, 2013

Mayor: Maloofs 'can participate in some way' in new local ownership group 'if they want to remain a part of this team and this community.'

— Ryan Lillis (@Ryan_Lillis) January 15, 2013

Mayor says we're playing to win and that this is the final act.

— HereWeStay (@HereWeStay) January 15, 2013

Mayor: "we're in a six-week sprint" to beat NBA relo deadline

— Dale Kasler (@dakasler) January 15, 2013

Kevin Johnson says that Stern will allow Sacramento to present at the Board of Governors meeting.

— James Ham (@James_Ham) January 15, 2013

That last quote is the money quote. While David Stern had previously stated that Sacramento deserved an opportunity, the league was under no obligation to allow Mayor Johnson to present. It's a big step for that presentation opportunity to already be approved. Johnson has remained very quiet about what he has planned, but given his history of success with the Board of Governors, there's definite reason for some measure of optimism after this.