Viral Scoop
news | July 08, 2026

Where did the triangle offense come from?

The Triangle half-court offense was originated by Sam Barry at the University of Southern California many years ago. It was further developed by former Kansas State head coach Tex Winter, who had played under Barry.

Who came up with the triangle offense?

But it is Hall of Fame coach Tex Winter, who played for Barry at USC in the late 1940s, who is credited with popularizing the triangle offence in the NBA. Winter served as an assistant coach on the Chicago Bulls between 1985 and 1999 before joining the Los Angeles Lakers between 1999 and 2008.

When was the triangle offense invented?

The Triangle Offense was born on the hardwood courts of the University of Southern California in the 1940s, the offspring of the university's innovative basketball coach, Justin McCarthy “Sam” Barry.

Did Phil Jackson create the triangle offense?

Phil Jackson had a very specific idea of how he wanted his team to score. The Triangle Offense was created by Coach Tex Winter to maximize the efficiency of a possession and to get the best shot possible. Prior to the Triangle, NBA teams operated mostly in isolation.

Who did Phil Jackson learn the triangle offense?

Winter learned the triangle when he played for USC in the 1940s under head coach Sam Barry, who invented the triangle offense. Before Winter joined the Bulls' coaching staff in 1985, he was a successful college head coach at Long Beach State.

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Does Steve Kerr use triangle offense?

Steve Kerr, Warriors head coach and past Triangle offense player with the Bulls, makes his support for Triangle-style fundamentals well known. Kerr believes “Today's game is so ball dominant.

Is the triangle offense still used?

It's easy to argue that the triangle offense is an outdated scheme that doesn't work in today's NBA, but don't give up on the system just yet. The critics say that it features the same, predetermined cuts and little individual variation.

How did the triangle offense work?

Three players form the core of the triangle offense by creating the sideline triangle on the strong side of the basketball court, or the side of the floor where the ball is in play. The other two players position themselves on the weak side of the court, where the ball is not in play, to form the two-person game.

How do you stop the triangle offense?

A guard will dribble the ball, find a wing on one side, then cut through to the corner to form the actual Triangle. As that happens, a third player drifts (or stays) well behind the three-point line in the middle of the floor, ready to receive a ball reversal should the initial action fall apart.

Do the Warriors use the triangle offense?

The Warriors coach played five seasons with the Chicago Bulls in Phil Jackson's triangle offense, and came out with three straight championships. This also doesn't mean the Warriors will all of the sudden start strictly running the triangle offense by any means.

Why is the triangle offense so effective?

The advantage to the first option is there are so many weapons to attack the defense it opens up a lot of freedom and ability to score effectively. The advantage on the second option is that the player who has the ball and uses the screen now has the entire side of the floor to work with to go one on one.

How do you break the triangle in basketball?

Establishing the Triangle - Entries

  1. 1-2-2 set. ...
  2. Point guard inside cut. ...
  3. Point guard outside cut. ...
  4. Dribble entry - wing pass denied. ...
  5. Weakside guard cuts to ball-side corner. ...
  6. Weakside post cuts to ball-side corner. ...
  7. Any player could play the low post. ...
  8. Weave-screen (dribble hand-off) entry.

Which NBA teams use triangle offense?

The Triangle Offense, popularized by Phil Jackson and his Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Laker teams, has its roots in Tex Winter's Triple Post offense of the 1950's. Winter, who has been coaching for close to 50 years, has been Jackson's assistant throughout Jackson's NBA coaching career.

What offense do the Golden State Warriors run?

With Curry on the floor, they use HORNS to run “Flex” action, which involves screening for someone in the corner — called a “Flex” screen — before running around a down-screen.

What is Steve Kerr's system?

The Warriors' motion offense that Steve Ker installed upon his arrival focuses on constant player and ball movement in order to create the best shot possible. The system effectiveness was maximized with Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Durant running it, but Curry's greatness is the driving factor.

What kind of offense does Steve Kerr use?

Stephen Curry thinks he's a better offensive player than LeBron James, and Steve Kerr's innovative new offense could prove the point guard right this year.

Is Steve Kerr still coaching the Warriors?

New Kings hire Mike Brown steps in as Warriors' head coach; Steve Kerr out with COVID-19. Golden State Warriors assistant Mike Brown knew he would be an NBA head coach again soon after being hired by the Kings, but he will get his next head coaching opportunity even sooner than he thought.

What is Flow offense?

If that is not possible then we would like our players to be able to execute a few offensive concepts that do not require them to stop and "Run a Play". This aspect of Half Court Offense, which occurs after initial transition efforts are neutralized, is what we call Flow Offense.

Are Golden State Warriors a good team?

The Warriors are first in the league in net rating (13) and defense rating (99.7 points allowed per 100 possessions), and they have the second-best offense (112.6 points scored per 100 possessions). Soon, one of the best shooters in the world will once again be on their active roster.

Do basketball coaches call plays?

Play Calling

Depending on the team, plays will be explicitly called on anywhere from 10 to 90 percent of offensive possessions. These play calls almost always come from either the coach or the point guard.