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Deron Williams was out of shape before aggravating an ankle injury in the Olympics that has hindered his first season in Brooklyn, USA Basketball president Jerry Colangelo told the Daily News. The Nets have maintained their injured point guard’s body is worn down because of nonstop playing over the last two summers — which led to PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections in both ankles this week — but Colangelo indicated Williams needed the work to lose weight. “Deron Williams, for the Olympics, was not in the best shape,” Colangelo told The News on Friday. “He was a little overweight, and I told him that at the time.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Jerry Colangelo, Deron Williams, USA Basketball 

It’s unclear when Williams aggravated his ankle injury at the Olympics, but he left London with his second gold medal while averaging nine points and 4.6 assists and shooting 39%. “I feel close to Deron, both from being from Illinois, and (from when) he was playing at Illinois . . . so I think I know him pretty well,” Colangelo said. “He’s a heck of a player, great guy, made a real contribution to USA Basketball and if he decides that he can’t participate because of his own health conditions, I’ve got a list a mile long of people who want to play. “We take care of our players,” he added. “Nobody is going to get hurt because they play for USA Basketball. Just the opposite.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Jerry Colangelo, Deron Williams, USA Basketball 

Stephen Curry has played himself back into Team USA mix, Jerry Colangelo tells me. David Lee and Paul George are also on the radar. That's obviously good news for Lee and George in All-Star seasons, but especially significant for Curry, who was in the 2010 world championships but did not make the roster for the 2012 Olympics. Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Jerry Colangelo, David Lee, USA Basketball, Stephen Curry 

Basketball Hall of Fame Chairman Jerry Colangelo defended the Hall's decision to elect Granik. "The committee that looked at all the people who were submitted as candidates came to the conclusion that Russ Granik was the person they wanted to put forward this year," Colangelo told USA TODAY Sports. "Everyone has their moment. Some people might get it on the first shot, second shot. In terms of a direct-elect, people are now going into the Hall who never went into the Hall. This is a great example of how this system is really working. USA Today Sports

Jerry Colangelo, Hall of Fame, Russ Granik 

USA Basketball is expanding its reach into youth basketball by partnering with iHoops, the joint initiative formed the NBA and NCAA to improve programs for young players. USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo says Friday the move is "an opportunity to make a big impact" on the development of young players and will help his organization find elite players who could eventually play for U.S. national teams. ESPN.com

Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, NCAA 

Jerry Colangelo's re-election as chairman of the USA national team means Phil Jackson's desire to add that post to his resumè is not likely to be sated. Jerry isn't Jim Buss when it comes to Phil, but it's not the kind of relationship that bears favors. Gregg Popovich and Doc Rivers remain the top candidates to succeed Coach K. Pop's familiarity with all things Europe is a big plus. about 6 hours ago Sulia

Phil Jackson, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball 

All through the summer, as Team USA pursued its second consecutive Olympic gold medal and its third straight international tournament championship, team chairman Jerry Colangelo remained coy about his future with the organization. He dropped hints that, unlike coach Mike Krzyzewski, he would be returning for another tour with USA Basketball, at least through the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but he would not specifically confirm that he was planning to be back. On Tuesday, it became official —Colangelo was elected chairman of Team USA again. “I'm excited to again serve USA Basketball as chairman for the next four years,” Colangelo said in a statement. “I'm proud of the many successes USA Basketball's coaches and players achieved over the past four years and I'm looking forward to helping keep that momentum going. Sporting News

Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski 

Jerry Colangelo on Tuesday was re-elected chairman of USA Basketball's board of directors for 2013 to 2016, a period which includes the 2014 men's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain and women's World Cup in Turkey and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Colangelo has transformed the U.S. men's team after a disappointing bronze medal and disinterested effort at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Since Colangelo joined USA Basketball in 2005 as managing director of the men's national team, the U.S. men are 62-1 with gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2010 world championships and 2012 London Olympics. The men did not lose a game at those three events under Colangelo and U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski. USA Today

Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski, World Championship 

USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo told the Globe in May that Rivers was on his radar, but Rivers is publicly lobbying for Collins to get the position. Rivers privately is intrigued by the possibility but is wary of the effect it would have on his relationships with the players. “Honestly, I think that’s a hard job for an NBA coach,” said Rivers. “First of all, hopefully you’re playing in June, and college coaches are done in March. They have a lot more time to prepare. “The biggest difference for a college coach is that the seven players that they don’t [start] can never get back at them. If I did become the coach, the seven guys I didn’t play, I would just have to prepare when we play them in the regular season — they are going to try to score 50 on me. You’ve just got to endure that.” Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball 

Before the first question can even be completed, Cousins -- looking lean and mean at 6-foot-11 with a frame that is nearly 20 pounds lighter than it was at last season's end -- provides a reminder as to why he's rattled so many cages in recent years. He is forever candid and uncouth, and, in this case, quick to correct the premise of a reporter's first question. His experience with the U.S. select team in Las Vegas in July won't be remembered as a positive one, he insists, and his well-publicized dust-up with USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo is to blame. "No, it wasn't [positive]," Cousins interjected unapologetically. "No." SI.com

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball 

During the week in which the select squad played against the Olympic team as training for the London Olympics, Cousins drew criticism for being too physical during scrimmages. Colangelo told reporters that Cousins "has some growing up to do." Cousins approaching the USA Basketball chairman to discuss their rift. "I didn't enjoy it," he said of the experience. "I went out there, and ... I'm not going to say I didn't learn anything from it, because I did. But it was just, in my mind, another political battle. I learned more about politics. I saw the work ethic of the so-called elite in the league, and I took some notes from that and took that back with me. But as far as the rest of it? No. SI.com

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball 

"Honestly, the scrimmages were one-sided the whole time. To even have a chance, you had to play hard as hell. I mean, we were out there getting our heads knocked off, and if they're going to play physical then I'm going to play physical back. I'm not out there trying to start fights, just trying to stand on my own. But I guess the ignorance of people is they take it as being immature." SI.com

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball 

In all likelihood, Jerry Colangelo will remain chairman of USA Basketball through the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, even as men's coach Mike Krzyzewski steps down. "I've decided I'm going to continue," Colangelo told USA TODAY Sports. "I'm committed to our organization during this transition period. I want to make sure, as good as things are, that once the baton is handed over to someone it's in even better shape. That's the plan for these next four years." USA Today

Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball 

Colangelo said his decision was not influenced by a decision from FIBA, international basketball's government body, not to ask the International Olympic Committee to make the men's competition an under-23 event. "It didn't have anything to do with my willingness to continue," he said. "I've been encouraged to continue, and if somebody didn't want me there, it would take about three seconds for me to walk." USA Today

Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball 

"What's important is to maintain the credibility and sustainability of USA Basketball," Colangelo said. "You've got to keep it going. I want to make sure the transition is a seamless transition over a period of time. If someone is there ready to take over after 2016, that's the right timing." USA Today

Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball 

Colangelo told me it was about understanding and connecting with a vast array of personality types, getting the trust of NBA superstars who could sacrifice ego for the good of the team. First, Colangelo wanted to hear first-hand what it was like to be a player on the Olympic basketball team. It's a unique experience, and he didn't want to assume he had all the answers. Picking the "right" coach depended on his understanding how the players felt and what motivated them. Harvard Business Review

Michael Jordan, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, Jerry West, USA Basketball, Lenny Wilkens, Mike Krzyzewski, Larry Bird, Chuck Daly 

In what can only be described as a virtual "Who's Who" of NBA superstar talent, in 2005 Colangelo called a special meeting of former Olympian basketball players. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Jerry West, and Hall of Fame Coaches Dean Smith, Lenny Wilkens, and Chuck Daly, among others, gave their input. It was a superstar group therapy session. They laid bare all concerns—one of most hailed players of our time, for instance, voiced concerns about looking stupid on a global stage. At that moment, choosing the right coach became a very personal endeavor. Harvard Business Review

Michael Jordan, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, Jerry West, USA Basketball, Lenny Wilkens, Mike Krzyzewski, Larry Bird, Chuck Daly 

Armed with an agreed-upon set of qualities, Colangelo was now comfortable soliciting candidate names from the group. He gave specific instructions to nominate potential coaches only if they fit the just-established requirements. "A bunch of names went on the white board, all with stellar win-loss records. We talked about each one, weighing the pros and cons," Colangelo told me. Harvard Business Review

Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski 

At one point during the debate, Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith of UNC—soft-spoken off the court—voiced "loud support" for Mike Krzyzewski, better known as Coach K, head coach of Duke University. As Colangelo told this story, he couldn't resist the opportunity to set me straight, "You're from Louisville and you think that the Louisville/Kentucky game is a big deal and a big rivalry. But that's nothing compared to the rivalry when UNC plays Duke. They play for blood. So when Coach Smith told us that no one will connect with and motivate the players like Coach K, the whole crowd was silent. That was a big moment for all of us." Harvard Business Review

Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski 

A few minutes later, Colangelo sent around a secret ballot box and asked everyone to cast a vote. "But make no mistake," he said, "I had to cast the final vote. With decisions this big, you can't pass the buck." Harvard Business Review

Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski