Southern California supermarket tycoon Ronald Burkle, in partnership with well-connected Sacramento lobbyist and developer Darius Anderson, emerged as last-minute potential saviors of the NBA in Sacramento.

The duo said they would lead a group that could purchase the Kings – or buy another team for the city should the Kings move to Anaheim.

A co-owner of hockey's Pittsburgh Penguins, the multibillionaire Burkle already has been rebuffed by the Maloofs on buying the team, Anderson said.

The family has vowed to hold onto the Kings and insisted Thursday that the team isn't for sale – to Burkle or anyone else.

"It does not matter – they are not going to sell the team," said Kings spokesman Troy Hanson when asked about the Burkle plan.

But with his wealth, connections and successful track record in hockey, Burkle's mere presence could persuade NBA owners to block the Kings' move to Anaheim – and effectively force the Maloofs to sell the team to him, said Lloyd Greif, a Los Angeles investment banker who is not involved in the deal but has known Burkle for years.