Tex Winter – A living legend becomes an NBA Hall of Famer
Last Friday, National Basketball Association’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place at Springfield Symphony Hall. The class of 2011 included Tara VanDerveer, Dennis Rodman, Artis Gilmore, Herb Magee, Reece Tatum, Teresa Edwards,
Arvydas Sabonis, Tom Sanders and Chris Mullin.
However, one man who stood out in the mix of greats was Tex Winter - one of the most innovative and successful servants of the game. At the age of 89 years, Winter enjoyed many successful years as a professional assistant coach
and won nine NBA titles in total. Although Winter had worked as a head coach for decades, but he has entered the Hall of Fame as the first ever assistant coach. The role of assistant had always been limited to voting and selection. His selection may pave way
for the assistant coaches to be inducted in future.
Tex Winter was not able to deliver an induction speech because he suffered a massive stroke two years back, but he did manage to make brief remarks. The triangle-offense guru stood with his presenter and a legendary head coach
of NBA, Phil Jackson and his son Chris Winter, who delivered the speech on his behalf. It all started with Phil, the man with whom, Winter achieved unprecedented success.
“Phil is stepping down again. He says he feels like he's losing touch. It's another last dance, a last tango. When Dad was Phil's age, he started a whole new 20-years long career. Tex would probably say to Phil and everyone out
there that there’s really no rest in the world. If you have something to offer, offer it. It’s not that Tex really ever believed he belonged in here. He just really didn’t believe in sitting on his backside. That’s all there is to it.”, said Chris Winter.
Winter started coaching early in his life at college level at Kansas State University, Marquette University and University of Washington. He spent most time in his career with Kansas and wrote the book, named ‘The Triple-Post Offense’.
That book eventually became the Bible of the famed ‘Triangle Offense’. He headed for the professional league soon after that.
After coaching the Houston Rockets from 1971-73, he joined the Chicago Bulls and inculcated his innovative triangle offense to a team that had basketball legend Michael Jordan. The move worked wonders the Bulls ended up winning
6 championship rings in the 90’s.
Known for his blunt and sometimes harsh nature, Winter frankness with the players was the key to get the job done in a nice way. Big names of basketball like Jordan and Kobe Bryant always respected him because of his expertise,
commitment and knowledge of the game. He was just the man, any head coach would want on his side and when Phil went to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000’s, he made sure that Winter accompanies him to the land of the Purple and the Blue. Together, they won three
championships from 2000-2002.
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