Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr recalled Tuesday that more than 20 years ago he introduced former Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver to then-Commissioner David Stern to pitch a Las Vegas franchise. Stern rejected the idea, Kerr said, because of gambling concerns. Sarver went on to buy the Suns in 2004.
Now the NBA appears all but certain to award Las Vegas an expansion franchise by 2026. Jerry Colangelo, who sold the Suns to Sarver, is part of one of three finalist groups and is partnered with Golden Knights owner Bill Foley. "Everything's changed a lot since then," Kerr said before the Warriors faced the Lakers in a preseason game at T-Mobile Arena. "The world, the NBA, style of play, societal norms, all that stuff. So now it's different, and here we are."
Lakers coach J.J. Redick, who has spent considerable time in the city as a media member and for NBA Summer League, called Las Vegas a perfect expansion destination. "This city's shown that it can have a great home crowd," Redick said, citing the Aces and Golden Knights. "I would expect that if Vegas does get a team, this place will be rocking."
Kerr added that expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle would help balance the league's geography. "Summer League's been great here. It feels like this is already part of the NBA," he said. "Obviously, it's not up to us. It's up to the owners what they decide to do, but it seems to make a lot of sense."
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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