Charles Barkley says Bulls fans owe Jerry Krause’s widow an apology, blames Michael Jordan

The Chicago Bulls opened their Ring of Honor on Friday, with the 1995-96 team becoming the first members. Fans at the United Center booed former general manager Jerry Krause when his name appeared on the big screen, causing his widow, Thelma, to burst into tears.

Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, a former friend of Michael Jordan’s during the NBA Finals loss to the Bulls during his MVP season in 1992-93, didn’t like sweating Friday. look.

“What happened the other night in Chicago was a disgrace,” Barkley said on Monday’s edition of Inside the NBA.

“For his wife to cry like that, it was wrong on so many levels. It was wrong for Michael, Scottie (Pippen) and Dennis (Rodman) not to show up.”

Krause, who died in 2017, built the Bulls that won six championships in the 1990s but insisted on rebuilding the team before the dynasty ended.

Chicago’s 1997-98 season was dubbed “The Last Dance,” with Krause telling head coach Phil Jackson it would be his last season coaching the team and Jordan making it clear he wouldn’t play for another Head coach plays.

Bulls fans were nervous for much of Krause’s second three-peat run from 1995-98, and the Bulls haven’t made it to the NBA Finals since the Jordan-Pippen-Jackson era. The legacy has also become complicated.

“What those fans did to Mrs. Claus was not cool,” Buckley said. “Everyone involved owes that woman an apology. Whether you liked Jerry Krause or not, that man is dead. Rest in peace.”

“His wife was there and you all made that lady cry, that’s total bullshit. That’s wrong, man. To have that lady cry like that, it broke my heart to watch that.”

Barkley also blamed Jordan, Pippen and Rodman for not attending the ceremony. Jordan and Pippen have been feuding since 2020 after Pippen apparently didn’t like the way he was portrayed in the documentary “The Last Dance.” Jordan’s son Marcus is also engaged to Pippen’s ex-wife Larsa.

Jordan said in a video played at the United Center that he was unable to attend Friday’s festivities and that heavy snow prevented Rodman from reaching the arena.