Colangelo leans toward staying with USA Basketball

Posted September 21, 2008 11:00 pm

Associated Press

PHOENIX -- After building an Olympic gold medal-winning team, Jerry Colangelo might make a run at another championship with USA Basketball.

"I'm kind of leaning toward continuing, but we still have some things that we're talking through just in terms of organization," Colangelo said Monday at a luncheon benefiting the Special Olympics of Arizona. "I'm kind of inclined to continue because it is my connection" to basketball.

Colangelo, the former Phoenix Suns owner, took over as USA Basketball's managing director in 2005. He appointed Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski to lead the team and, in a change of policy, required players to make a three-year commitment.

The Americans swept the gold medal in Beijing, their first in a major international tournament since 2000.

"It's my call whether I want to continue and get ready for London in 2012," Colangelo said. "You know what's really great? The infrastructure is in place for USA Basketball going forward."

Colangelo said he's not sure if his duties would change. The U.S.' next major competition is the 2010 world championships in Turkey.

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