Kerr jokingly hopes Lacob buys A's after success with Warriors

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Steve Kerr is rooting for the Oakland Athletics to stay put.

Kerr joined 95.7's The Game's "Damon & Ratto" on Thursday, where he discussed Warriors owner Joe Lacob's reported interest in acquiring the Los Angeles Angels and hoped that Lacob would turn his sights to a local team. 

"I actually asked him about that recently," a laughing Kerr said. "I was hoping he'd buy the A's, to be honest, because I really want a new stadium in Oakland.

"I want that to happen. I know I'm not the only one."

Kerr believes that the A's are similar to how the Warriors were, in that both could be considered "sleeping giants" with a "cool brand, great colors and history." However, the Warriors coach says that having a new stadium is crucial for the A's, based on his own personal experience. 

"I think when I got here nine years ago, I went to one A's game and that was it," Kerr recalled. "I didn't really want to go back because the ballpark experience wasn't that great."

The Giants are Kerr's baseball team of choice and praised the "beautiful" Oracle Park, believing that if the A's were able to build a new stadium, that it would do wonders for the organization. 

"If the A's could ever do the same thing on the other side of the Bay, it would be amazing for our community," Kerr continued. 

Overall, Kerr knows Lacob's ability to transform struggling franchises and turn them into championship-winning organizations, as evidenced by the fact Golden State has won four championships in eight years.

However, Kerr isn't holding his breath on the Warriors owner potentially buying the A's. 

"So I would love to see that happen and knowing Joe and knowing what he's done with the Warriors, that would be really cool. But I don't think that's in the cards from what I understand," Kerr concluded. 

Lacob's interest in owning a baseball team is not new.

In an interview with John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle back on July 10, 2022, Lacob revealed he had been interested in buying the A's since 2005.

Though the deal almost was finalized, then-MLB commissioner Bud Selig awarded the sale to John Fisher and Lew Wolff instead. Since then, Lacob shared he's had a standing offer to buy the A's from Fisher for over a decade.

Despite missing out on the A's, Lacob has been an ardent supporter of the team staying in Oakland, including backing the Howard Terminal ballpark site for years. 

The A's staying in Oakland has been a large topic of conversation, especially since now-commissioner Rob Manfred expressed his doubts about the Howard Terminal project back coming to fruition back in October.

RELATED: Warriors owner Lacob confirms interest in buying Angels

For how long the A's continues to call Oakland home remains to be seen. 

One thing is for certain, however: If Lacob is able to get his hands on the A's, expectations for Oakland instantly will increase, as evidenced by the Warriors' success.

If that happens, perhaps Kerr can say he had a part in helping the A's stay in Oakland. 

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