Jerry Krause was the general manager of the Chicago Bulls during the “Dream Team” era, which won six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998. However, despite his success in the sporting world, Krause has always been a controversial figure and his legacy continues to be contested.
Bulls fans, in particular, were particularly hostile to Krause. This is due to a number of factors, including:
Her relationship with Michael Jordan. The relationship between Krause and Jordan has never been good, and the general manager was one of the main reasons why Jordan retired from the NBA in 1993.
His management of the team after the championship. Krause fired coach Phil Jackson, who had led the Bulls to six championships, and refused to renew the contracts of several key players, leading to the end of the “Dream Team” era.
In 1998, after the Bulls won their sixth championship, Krause fired Jackson. Jackson was a hugely popular coach among Bulls players and fans, and his firing was seen as a betrayal.
Krause also declined to re-sign several key players, including Scottie Pippen. Pippen was one of the best players in the NBA at the time, and his departure was a huge blow to the Bulls.
In 1999, the Bulls ended their worst season in franchise history with a 13-37 record.
He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. In January 2024, Krause was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
However, his induction ceremony was met with boos from Bulls fans. Klaus’s widow Thelma was even moved to tears by the audience’s reaction.
Bulls fans criticized Krause’s decision to be inducted into the Hall of Fame because of his differences with Jordan and the franchise’s legacy.