As the saying goes, the best defense is a good offense. And in the NBA, a killer offense is often what separates the winners from the losers. Throughout history, there have been a few offensive systems so dominant that they don’t just break through defenses, they shatter the other team’s confidence. Just like Michael Jordan did against his opponents with a triangle offense. 

Back in the 90s, when Michael Jordan was straight-up unstoppable, he was out there wrecking teams almost single-handedly. So to counter his attack Detroit Pistons came up with a strategy called the ‘Jordan Rules’. Basically, they zeroed in on Michael Jordan and wore him down physically so that he couldn’t dominate anymore. To counter that, Phil Jackson and Tex Winter came up with the OG triangle offense, and the rest is history.

But wait a second, are we forgetting to give credit where it’s due? Could it be that someone else was rocking this technique way before Phil Jackson made it famous? Well, let’s see what Lakers legend Byron Scott has to say about that!

In yesterday’s episode of Scoop B Radio, former player and coach of the Lakers, Byron Scott was found saying, “They give Tex Winter a lot of credit for the triangle offense in Chicago, but that’s something Pete Carril was doing way back at Princeton when it was just called the Princeton offense.”

Byron Scott reveals the triangle offense’s real pioneer

Byron Scott believes Pete Carril never got the spotlight he truly deserved. When asked, “Why doesn’t Pete Carril get the triangle offense treatment?” Scott responded, “I don’t know, that’s a good question…” He went on to shine a light on Carril’s contributions, saying, “He doesn’t get enough credit, you know, for what he was able to do at Princeton.”

Scott has his reasons for backing Carril. Using this technique, Carril led Princeton to major success during the modern era, racking up a .663 win percentage over 29 seasons, a feat that’s anything but easy. Scott also revealed that when he took over as head coach of the New Jersey Nets, he adopted the Princeton offense himself. The results? Back-to-back Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. The Nets wrapped up the 2001-02 season with a 52-30 record, their best since joining the NBA in 1976.

Scott couldn’t stop singing the praises of the Princeton offense and its genius simplicity. Reflecting on why the system worked so well, he said, “It’s a great offense. You’ve got to have very good basketball players who truly understand the game.”  And that’s the magic of it, it’s not just about running plays, it’s about players reading the court, making smart decisions, and creating opportunities. Scott pointed out that this offense thrives when it’s in the hands of players who not only have skill but also high basketball IQ.