Winter basketball innovator Fred "Tex" Winter, a member of the basketball hall of fame, passed away on Wednesday. He was 96 years old.

Winter is known as the brain of the famous offensive triangle that helped win nine NBA championships during his tenure as assistant coach of Phil Jackson with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

Winter began his coaching career in 1947 as an assistant in Kansas State. In 1951, he became coach at Marquette for two seasons before returning to the state of Kansas in 1953. During the 15 winter seasons, the Wildcats participated in six NCAA tournaments and reached the Final Four twice. The 1964 Winters season remains the last appearance of the school in the Final Four.

Kansas State University said that winter had passed Wednesday in Manhattan.

"I've learned so much from Coach Winter.He was a pioneer and a real student of the game." His triangle attack was a huge part of our six championships with the Bulls, "Michael Jordan written in a statement by email at the Chicago Tribune. "Tex has always been focused on the details and preparation and was an excellent teacher.I have had the chance to play for him.My condolences to his family."

Others in the game have expressed their condolences to the Winter family.

"On behalf of all the Lakers organization, I would like to express our sadness after the death of Tex Winter," said Jeanie Buss, owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers, to a statement issued by the team. "Tex has helped the team lead four NBA championships and has been a mentor to many of our coaches and players."

Winter published "The Triple-Offense Post" in 1962 and teamed up with Jackson to use the system with great success with Jordan and Kobe Bryant, winning the NBA championships with Jordan's Bulls in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998, and Bryant's Lakers in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2009 (Winter was a consultant for the Lakers when they won the title in 2009).

Winter was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 after more than six decades in the coaching profession. He was head coach at Marquette (1951-1953), Kansas State (1954-1968), Washington (1969-1972), Northwestern (1975-1978) and Long Beach (1978-1983). He spent two seasons as a Houston Rockets coach (1972-1974), 51 to 78 years old. In 1985, he joined the Bulls and helped change the story of the game for over two decades as an assistant coach.

Contribution: Associated Press