The basketball assistant coaches have become much more than just individuals waiting for his time to shine as head coaches.
These coaches have integrated themselves into all aspects of each team they coach. They assistant coach has more time to focus on certain game plans that can make the team more successful.
While the head coach has the problem of managing playing time and managing egos, the assistant coach goes to work to devise a plan to catch the opposing team off guard.
The best example of an assistant coach who never strived to head coach his own team his Tex Winter. Tex Winter has worked under Phil Jackson, coach of the Lakers. As a basketball assistant coach, he has worked under Phil Jackson for almost 20 years with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers.
During this time, he has coached some of the greatest players to play in the NBA. He has given his expertise to Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O’ Neal, and Kobe Bryant. He is also known as the father of the Triangle Offense. This offense has made both the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, two of the most elite teams in the NBA.
There are players that have been traded by taking too long to pick up this offense. However, one thing that cannot be argued is the success that Tex Winter has had as a basketball assistant coach because of this offensive gameplan.
Tex has been the assistant coach on 9 NBA championship teams with The Chicago Bulls, and most recently the Los Angeles Lakers. Before this triangle offense was instituted in both of these franchises, there were no titles with the same group of players. Jordan, Pippen, O’Neal, and Bryant can thank Tex Winter for bringing them their first championships as professional athletes and the continued success that they have had since.
Assistant coaches have been a more important part of the game since Tex Winter’s importance as an assistant coach. The assistant coaches at all levels are now trying to come up with their own offensive schemes in order to get noticed for a head coaching gig.
The importance of a basketball assistant coach can be traced back to Tex Winter and the triangle offense, without this, the basketball assistant coaching job might not be as important as it is today.
The triangle offense is named as which because of the sideline triangle created between the center, who stands at the low post; the forward, at the wing, and the guard at the corner. The other two players not in the triangle can play in a two man game, which allows them to have better spacing for moving to the hoop or taking the open jumper.
The goal of the offense is to fill those five spots, which creates good spacing between players and allows each one to pass to four teammates at any time. Every pass and cut has a purpose and everything is dictated by the defense.
Even though it has been criticized by other assistant coaches because of the complexity of this offense and the steep learning curve involved with mastering this offense.
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