Sad news: The Chicago Bulls have just officially announced the death of their loved one

Sad news: The Chicago Bulls have just officially announced the death of their loved one

Morice Fredrick “Tex” Winter, a former assistant coach for the Bulls and the man credited with creating the renowned triangle offense, passed away on Wednesday, the team announced.

In 2011, Winter, then ninety-six, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. As an assistant for the Bulls and Lakers, he was the recipient of nine NBA championships.

Bulls vice president of basketball operations John Paxson said of Tex Winter, “Tex Winter was a basketball legend and perhaps the finest fundamental teacher in the history of our game.

“”He was a trailblazer with high expectations for the daily approach and play of basketball.

Those of us who had the good fortune to play for him will always admire his passion for hoops. We will never forget his contributions to the Bulls organization.

After being hired as the Rockets’ coach in 1971, Winter spent the next twenty-plus years coming and going from the league, holding coaching positions at Northwestern, Kansas State, and Long Beach State.

He had planned to retire prior to the 1985–86 season, but Jerry Krause, the general manager of the Bulls at the time, persuaded him to become an assistant coach and bring his triangle offense with him.

 

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With coach Phil Jackson added to the mix and an emerging Michael Jordan serving as the team’s face, the Bulls had the makings of a perfect storm.

Jackson quickly became an expert in Winter’s offensive scheme.

The Bulls’ dynasty ended with six championships in the 1997–98 season, having started in the 1990–91 campaign.

Winter accompanied Jackson to Los Angeles, where they won three more titles together.

Winter’s health issues started in 2009 when he had a stroke while at a reunion for the Kansas State basketball team.

In 2010, Winter was inducted not only into the Basketball Hall of Fame but also into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.