Jackson Adds Final Side of Triangle to Coaching Staff by Hiring Winter

They’ve broken up that old gang of theirs.

Another Bull assistant left the former dynasty to rejoin Phil Jackson with the Lakers when 77-year-old Tex Winter, the innovator of the triangle offense, announced Friday he was heading west after 14 seasons in Chicago.

Winter joins two more former Bull assistants, Jim Cleamons and Frank Hamblen, and Jackson’s old trainer, Chip Schaefer, who will work alongside the Lakers’ Gary Vitti.

The decision was difficult for Winter, who was torn between his loyalty to the Bulls and General Manager Jerry Krause, who hired him out of retirement in 1985 and has promoted his candidacy for the Hall of Fame, and the temptation of one more shot at working with a championship team.

Or as he said last week: “At my age, I probably should be looking at the nursing home next door.”

Said Winter on Friday from Chicago: “I feel kind of like I’m abandoning the ship here, but on the other hand, I’m not the captain. They’ll be in good hands, and I’m sure they’ll get by without me.

“With my career winding down, as it will be shortly, I’d like to see if I can put myself in a position to have a shot at being with a championship contender. I was raised in Southern California, and that’s where we plan to retire. . . .

“It was hard to leave the Bulls. Jerry and I have been friends a long time. I’ve known Jerry since he was just out of college. He’s always been awfully nice to me. I feel nothing but good feelings for him. Likewise, I think Jerry Reinsdorf is one of the top owners in the NBA.”

Winter played at USC on a team that also included Bill Sharman and Alex Hannum, and coached the San Diego Rockets and Long Beach State.