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It is easy to forget now that the men's basketball team of the United States has regained its place among the most dominant teams in all sports. But not so long ago, the US team had become a second-class citizen in the basketball world.
However, Jerry Colangelo remembers it very well. Thirteen years ago, this summer, Colangelo, one of the most influential people in basketball over the last 50 years, has been named USA Basketball's director. After a sixth place finish at the 2002 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics, it was Colangelo who was charged to lead the United States team to the top.
While Colangelo stood on the ground Last week, as a result of one of the two practices of the US team this summer, both included more than 20
NBA
The biggest American stars participating in voluntary training, he could not help but feel nostalgic about the program's journey.
"I was just talking about that a little while ago with
Coach K
"When I met him in 2005, we talked about changing the culture … we talked about putting in place an infrastructure that would last a long time," Colangelo told the Washington Post, referring to Mike Krzyzewski. after our departure. So we changed the culture, the infrastructure is in place and it's kind of a machine. And so, mission accomplished, in this sense. "
Mission accomplished indeed Since this summer, things have changed a lot for Team USA: the program is 88-1 since then, the only loss that happens in Greece in the semifinals of the 2006 World Championships in Japan.
Since then, the US team has won its last five tournaments – the 2008, 2012 and
2016 Olympic Games
and the 2010 and 2014 World Championships – a series of success unmatched in the history of the program. That, coupled with the level of expectation and excitement among the best American players to be part of the program, was precisely where Colangelo was considering it.
"As for the results, it was great," he said. "I can not forget the loss, she will still be there, but after saying that, it's the news of yesterday: we have a new coach to move on, and last night we talked about what we were, from what we have accomplished and now bury that, and move on to something else, we have work to do, everyone wants to make us fall, that's enough incentive, in my opinion, to say: "We have a lot of work to do."
"The good news is that we are going to have a lot of guys to choose from."
It will be Colangelo and
Gregg Popovich
who officially took the place of Krzyzewski after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, to choose these guys. Colangelo said that he was initially expecting to leave the program in 2016 with Krzyzewski. But after Popovich said that he would be willing to coach the team on one condition – that Colangelo remains at the helm – these plans have changed.
"So, in my mind, that brings me to 2020," says Colangelo. "And then, we'll see."
It would be appropriate, assuming that the US team maintains its level of success, that Colangelo's final act is to lead a team in Japan, where he suffered the only loss of its mandate. emerge with yet another gold medal. No matter what happens, however, he is approaching the end of a remarkable basketball life.
Since he began his career working for the Chicago Bulls in 1966, Colangelo served as general manager, and later,
Phoenix Suns
at the head of the franchise for most of the four decades. He has also been president of the Basketball Hall of Fame in addition to his role over the past 13 years with the United States team.
Yet, in recent months, Colangelo has been stuck in a precarious personal position. He had to watch his son, Bryan, endure an embarrassing situation in which he resigned as president of basketball operations with the Philadelphia 76ers after revelations that Bryan Colangelo's wife, Barbara, had exploited fake Twitter accounts in his name. I did not make any public comment about what happened, "said Jerry Colangelo." I do not think it would be appropriate, it's been a very difficult summer for him and his family "
In discussing the situation, Colangelo appointed his own term in Philadelphia – with which he served as a special advisor – as more, before clarifying that he was" finished at the end of the year. " year. "
A league source has confirmed this account.While Colangelo is under contract until the end of this calendar year, and that the 76ers will honor this contract, it will not be renewed. Is an awkward end to what was one of the weirdest stories in the NBA's recent memory.
Meanwhile, Colangelo can embark on his work with Team USA and attempt to maintain the success that he has known over the last decade.
If history is an indication, things will go tr
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