By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
ANKARA (AA) – Legendary basketball coach Tex Winter passed away at the age of 96 in Manhattan, his family said late Wednesday.
Winter — who won 9 NBA titles with Chicago Bulls (6) and Los Angeles Lakers (3) assisting head coach Phil Jackson — was the innovator of the “triangle offense.”
“Tex Winter was my biggest critic. He was also my biggest fan, ” Scottie Pippen, NBA legend Hall of Famer and former Chicago Bulls player, wrote his thoughts on Twitter.
“Without Tex, we may never have won a title. He taught us how to slice and dice our opponents on the offensive end, ” Pippen said.
“Tex was tough on me early in my career. But he believed in me and gave me the confidence I needed to make the triangle work. He’d say, “I’m not criticizing, I’m coaching, ” Pippen wrote.
Also in a post Twitter, Hall of Famer NBA legend and former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant offered his condolences.
“My mentor. I sat with Tex & watched every minute of every game during our 1st season together. He taught me how to study every detail. He was a bball [basketball] genius in every sense of the word. I’ll miss him deeply. Thank you Tex. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. Rest In Peace, ” Bryant wrote.