During the early 1970s, Winter was transitioning between various coaching roles. Prior to this period, he had been the head coach at Kansas State University, where he had a long tenure from 1953 to 1968. After leaving Kansas State, Winter took on the role of head coach at the University of Washington from 1969 to 1971. His time at Washington was challenging, and he eventually moved on from this position.
In the early 1970s, Winter's career took a turn towards professional basketball. He joined the NBA as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets. This role marked his entry into the professional league, where he began to further develop and refine his coaching philosophies. Although specific details about his activities and achievements during the 1972-1973 period are sparse, it is known that Winter was laying the groundwork for his future endeavors in the NBA.
Winter's influence on basketball strategy, particularly with the triangle offense, would later become more pronounced when he joined the Chicago Bulls in the late 1980s. However, the early 1970s were a time of transition and adaptation for Winter as he navigated the professional basketball landscape.
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