Jerry Colangelo: 'I haven't stepped down'

CHICAGO - If Wednesday was any indication, Jerry Colangelo still has a key role with the 76ers.

Colangelo dropped the title of chairman of basketball operations after his son, Bryan, was introduced as the team's president of basketball operations on Sunday. But the elder Colangelo was with the team for the season finale against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.

"Nothing really changed," said Colangelo, who lives in Phoenix. "My role is still the same that I was originally asked to come in and do."

The Hall of Famer and four-time executive of the year was hired on Dec. 7 to be an adviser and mentor to the Sixers. The title of chairman was something the team added, so he went along with it.

"But in translation, [his role after Bryan's hire] sounded differently, especially the stepping down kind of a thing," Colangelo said. "I haven't stepped down. I'm still walking on the same level, doing the same thing."

The only difference is that his son is the one calling the shots, having the last word. Bryan Colangelo flew to Philadelphia from Toronto on Wednesday. He is scheduled to travel attend the NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York on Thursday.

"We have someone in place that I think is going to do a great job for the Philadelphia 76ers," the elder Colangelo said of his son. "He's thrown himself in immediately. It's exciting in terms of what lies ahead for all the right reasons - the draft picks, the free agency, the things that have already been put into place and into motion. I think the future is very bright."

Colangelo reiterated that he wasn't involved in his son's hiring. He said he took himself out of the hiring process once Bryan and Danny Ferry were the finalists for job. Bryan Colangelo replaced Sam Hinkie, who resigned as the Sixers' president of basketball operations and general manager last Wednesday. Hinkie left because he was going to lose his power to the team's new president.

The elder Colangelo denied a report that he leaked Hinkie's 13-page resignation letter to the media.

"I found it kind of interesting when a national writer, if you will, kind of indicated that I may have been the leak," he said, "when I found out that another national guy had it within five minutes of when it was sent out."

Colangelo said the resignation letter came out of the blue and took a long time to read. "I didn't quite understand all of it," he said. "I went to Illinois, and I didn't get it."

He said that he didn't want Hinkie to resign but that his role would remain the same no matter who was in the front office.

"I'm going to consult," Jerry Colangelo said. "I'm going to mentor. I'm going to be around to give as much input as required or asked, because I want nothing but the best for the Philadelphia 76ers."