His Warriors made playoffs 5 times
Former Warriors owner Jim Fitzgerald, known throughout the league for bringing a family culture to the business of basketball, died Monday in Janesville, Wis., team officials said. He was 86.
Mr. Fitzgerald was part of a group that bought the Warriors from Franklin Mieuli in May 1986, and Mr. Fitzgerald was the majority owner until selling the team to Chris Cohan in 1995. The Warriors went 325-331 during Mr. Fitzgerald’s ownership, making the playoffs five times and advancing to the Western Conference semifinals three times.
“Mr. Fitzgerald was simply a terrific man of incredible character and high standards who was a model owner for the Warriors and the NBA,” said Al Attles, who has been with the
organization more than 50 years. “He always put the needs and concerns of others ahead of himself and was one of the most giving and caring individuals I have ever met. He enriched the lives of his friends, employees and acquaintances, and for that, we are forever grateful.”
In an era of lawsuits and countersuits, Mr. Fitzgerald and the NBA’s all-time winningest coach, Don Nelson, were said to have a handshake agreement rather than a written contract. Mr. Fitzgerald was the Milwaukee Bucks’ owner during a run of seven division titles beginning in 1980, and Nelson was the head coach.
Mr. Fitzgerald again hired Nelson as the head coach and general manager when he bought the Warriors. Nelson turned down opportunities to coach the Boston Celtics in 1983 and the San Antonio Spurs in 1994, because of his relationship with Mr. Fitzgerald.
“Looking back, I was a loyal guy because Jim Fitzgerald was so good to me, so I don’t really regret not going,” Nelson said. “But as a career move, I probably should have.”
Mr. Fitzgerald, a graduate of Notre Dame, worked in the oil industry and built shopping centers and hotels, but he made his fortune in cable TV. He bought Total TV Inc., which eventually was sold to Jones Intercable and is now part of Comcast.
The most indelible image of Mr. Fitzgerald’s NBA tenure came in 1983, when the Bucks swept the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Mr. Fitzgerald was captured on camera with a lit cigar — a barb aimed at Celtics general manager Red Auerbach.
Mr. Fitzgerald is survived by his wife, Marilyn, and six children.