Horace Grant shares how difficult it was to learn the Chicago Bulls’ triangle offense

Grant also explained why today's coaches don't use the triangle offense

During an AMA session on Reddit, four-time NBA champion Horace Grant was asked if the success of the Chicago Bulls’ triangle offense was related to the way Phil Jackson taught it or the whole team undoubtedly buying into it. 

Grant's take on the triangle offense

“It was a combo of the two," Grant said. "If you studied mandarin for the first time, that’s how difficult it was. Because if you shut down 50 to 100 options, then it has about 200 more options. That’s how complicated and difficult learning it is, but once you learn it, you start kicking yourself wondering why you didn’t get this from the beginning. It’s like a well-oiled machine once you get it and everyone knows their place in it."

Grant then explained why it’s difficult for teams/head coaches to implement the triangle offense today.

“Today basketball is more of a one on one type of feel, isolations, and things of that nature. It’s intriguing that the triangle offense has produced 11 championships. Bulls 6 and the Lakers 5 with Phil Jackson. Coaches really don’t want to buy in to it or the players don’t want to buy in to it, or are not capable of running it,” he said.

Grant’s time in Chicago

Grant helped the Bulls win three consecutive NBA championships from 1991 to 1993. He made an impact with his defense and rebounding but primarily served as an enforcer, who was not afraid of doing the dirty work, allowing Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen to focus on creating on offense.

Overall, Grant played in the NBA for 17 years. He left the Bulls after his All-Star season in 1994, which was the best year of his career. He averaged 15.1 points, 11 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1 steal in 36.7 minutes over 70 games that year.

Grant played 10 more years in the NBA with the Magic, SuperSonics, and Lakers, winning another NBA Championship in 2000-01 with Los Angeles.