Editing Jerry Colangelo (section)

== Basketball ==
[[File:20140814 World Basketball Festival Jerry Colangelo.JPG|thumb|Colangelo at the 2014 World Basketball Festival]]
Colangelo began his sports career in 1966 in professional basketball with the [[Chicago Bulls]]. He worked as a marketing director, scout, and assistant to the president of the team.<ref>{{cite web|last=Charles |first=Mike |title=Jerry's story |url=http://www.jcolangelo.com/jerrys-story.php?&page=2 |access-date=March 13, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314223509/http://www.jcolangelo.com/jerrys-story.php?&page=2 |archive-date=March 14, 2012 }}</ref> In 1968, he left the Bulls and was hired as the first general manager of the expansion team, the [[Phoenix Suns]]. He was the youngest general manager in professional sports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/suns/news/jerry_colangelo_bio.html |publisher=NBA |access-date=December 18, 2014 | title=Jerry Colangelo Bio|work=Phoenix Suns }}</ref> When he and his family left for Arizona, he had $200 in his wallet.<ref name="HYPTG" />

Colangelo got off to an unlucky start, losing a 1969 coin flip to the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] for the rights to [[UCLA]] phenom [[Lew Alcindor]] (who became [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]]). The Suns were competitive during most of the 1970s, making it to the [[1976 NBA Finals|NBA Finals in 1976]], but losing to the [[Boston Celtics]] in six games. Colangelo had two stints as head coach during that decade, compiling a record of 59 wins and 60 losses.

Throughout most of the 1980s, Colangelo's Suns faced difficulties.  Some players, including 1976 NBA Finals player [[Garfield Heard]], were involved in an infamous drug scandal, young center [[Nick Vanos]] died in a 1987 plane crash, and, from 1985 through 1988, the Suns failed to qualify for the playoffs. Colangelo assembled a group of investors that bought the Suns in late 1987, in the wake of the drug scandal.  He subsequently made a trade for [[Kevin Johnson (basketball)|Kevin Johnson]] in 1987.

The Suns made one of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history in [[1988–89 NBA season|1988–89]], nearly doubling their win total (from 28 wins to 55) and making the first of 13 straight playoff appearances.  In 1989, Colangelo was an essential part of the group that provided financial backing to build [[America West Arena]] (renamed [[Talking Stick Resort Arena]]). In 1992, Colangelo traded [[Jeff Hornacek]], [[Tim Perry]], and [[Andrew Lang (basketball)|Andrew Lang]] to the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] for [[Charles Barkley]]. The trade proved to be productive for the Suns, and they reached the NBA Finals for the second time in 1993, this time losing to the Chicago Bulls starring [[Michael Jordan]] in six games. Barkley's relationship with Colangelo, however, grew sour over the years, and in 1996, he was traded to the [[Houston Rockets]].

Throughout his time with the Suns, Colangelo would win four different [[NBA Executive of the Year]] honors with the team. It would stand to be the most honors for an executive of one team in the NBA. He eventually turned over the Suns' presidency to his son [[Bryan Colangelo|Bryan]], who later left the organization to become [[general manager]] of the [[Toronto Raptors]]. Bryan ended up winning two [[NBA Executive of the Year]] honors: one with Phoenix, and one with Toronto only two seasons later.

On December 7, 2015, Colangelo decided to return to the NBA to become the new chairman of basketball operations for the [[Philadelphia 76ers]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Zillgitt|first1=Jeff|title=Jerry Colangelo named 76ers chairman of basketball operations|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/76ers/2015/12/07/jerry-colangelo-named-76ers-chairman-basketball-operations/76944700/|website=USA Today|access-date=December 8, 2015}}</ref> as well as special adviser to the team's managing partner.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cooney|first1=Bob |title= Adding Jerry Colangelo a slam dunk for Sixers |url= http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20151208_Adding_Jerry_Colangelo_a_slam_dunk_for_Sixers.html  |website= philly.com |date=December 7, 2015 |publisher= The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=December 8, 2015}}</ref> On April 7, 2016, Colangelo's son, Bryan, took on the role of general manager and president of basketball operations for the 76ers after their former president and general manager, [[Sam Hinkie]], resigned from his position before end of the [[2015-16 NBA season|2015–16 season]] due to irreconcilable differences with Jerry.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/2016/news/04/06/76ers-sam-hinkie-quits.ap/index.html |title=76ers president/General manager Sam Hinkie quits &#124; NBA.com |website=[[NBA.com]] |access-date=April 7, 2016 |archive-date=April 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408212506/http://www.nba.com/2016/news/04/06/76ers-sam-hinkie-quits.ap/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The move reunited the Colangelos for the first time since 2004 with the [[Phoenix Suns]]. Colangelo stepped down as chairman of basketball operations following the hiring of his son, but he retained his role as special adviser to the managing partner.<ref name="zharper">{{cite news|last1=Harper|first1=Zach|title=Bryan Colangelo named Sixers' president, Jerry Colangelo steps down|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25549653/bryan-colangelo-named-sixers-president-jerry-colangelo-steps-down|access-date=April 11, 2016|work=CBS Sports|date=April 10, 2016}}</ref> Just before his son's later resignation from the position of general manager, Colangelo attempted to save Bryan's job by threatening to damage the team's NBA relationships.<ref>[http://www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-fire-gm-bryan-colangelo-aftermath-burner-account-scandal/ “Sixers and GM Bryan Colangelo part ways in aftermath of burner account scandal”]. "The Philly Voice". Retrieved June 7, 2018</ref> On July 30, 2018, it was revealed that he would retire as of 2019.