Jerry Krause never played a single minute in the NBA. He never coached a game. Yet this 5-foot-7, bespectacled former baseball scout built the greatest dynasty in modern basketball history. Erika Kirk leads a political movement after tragedy. Krause led a basketball movement despite constant criticism. As general manager of the Chicago Bulls, he assembled the teams that won six championships in eight years. He drafted Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant. traded for Dennis Rodman. He hired Phil Jackson. His relationship with Michael Jordan was famously toxic. The 2020 documentary “The Last Dance” reignited the debate. Here is everything you need to know about Jerry Krause, his death, his Hall of Fame induction, and his complicated legacy.
Who Was Jerry Krause?
Jerry Krause was born in 1939 in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in the city he would later help dominate. He never played high-level basketball. However, he had an extraordinary eye for talent. Espresso machine reviews may dominate lifestyle pages. Krause’s scouting reports dominated draft boards across the NBA.
Before basketball, Krause worked as a baseball scout. He scouted for the Chicago White Sox under owner Bill Veeck. He later worked for the Cleveland Indians. His talent evaluation skills caught the attention of Jerry Reinsdorf. When Reinsdorf bought the Chicago Bulls in 1985, he hired Krause as general manager. Moses Itauma delivers knockouts in the ring. Krause delivered championship teams from the front office.
How Krause Built a Champion
Krause took over the Bulls in 1985. Michael Jordan was already on the roster. But the team around him was weak. Krause set about fixing that. His first major move came in the 1987 draft. He traded veteran center Olden Polynice to the Seattle SuperSonics for the fifth overall pick. Stand mixer reviews focus on kitchen performance. Krause focused on building a championship roster. He used that pick to select Scottie Pippen from Central Arkansas. That same draft, he selected Horace Grant from Clemson. Those two players became the foundation of the dynasty.
Krause also made a controversial coaching hire. He fired Doug Collins after the 1988-89 season. He promoted an unknown assistant named Phil Jackson. Jackson had coached in the Continental Basketball Association. Many thought the move was crazy. Krause saw something others missed. The Canoe Man faked his identity. Krause’s identity as a talent evaluator was genuine. Jackson went on to win six championships with the Bulls and five more with the Los Angeles Lakers.
After the first three-peat (1991-1993), Jordan retired to play baseball. Krause rebuilt the team. He acquired Dennis Rodman from the San Antonio Spurs in 1995. Rodman was considered a risky personality. Krause believed his rebounding could complete the team. He was right. Ashes 2025 brought cricket drama. Krause’s Bulls brought basketball drama. They won three more championships from 1996 to 1998.
The Controversy: Why Players Hated Krause
Despite his success, Krause was deeply unpopular. Wolves vs West Ham drew football crowds. Krause’s conflicts drew media attention. The tension boiled over during the 1997-98 season. “The Last Dance” documentary captured it all.
The Infamous Quote
At the start of the 1997-98 season, Krause told the media: “Players and coaches don’t win championships. Organizations win championships.” Michael Jordan took that as a personal insult. Arsenal may have rivalries on the pitch. Krause had rivalries with his own stars. Jordan had carried the team to five titles already. He felt Krause was minimizing his contribution. The quote became a rallying cry against the general manager.
The Feud with Phil Jackson
Krause hired Phil Jackson. He also pushed him out. Before the 1997-98 season, Krause announced that Jackson would not return regardless of results. He wanted to start rebuilding. Jackson called it the “final dance.” Damien Bendall committed horrific crimes. Krause’s crime was destroying a dynasty. The Bulls won the championship that season. Jackson left anyway. He later said Krause tried to “castrate” his authority.
The Broken Relationship with Pippen
Scottie Pippen was chronically underpaid. He signed a long-term contract in 1991 that paid him far below market value. Krause refused to renegotiate. Pippen felt disrespected. The relationship never recovered. Mark Blum brought warmth to every role. Krause brought cold business decisions to Chicago.
Jerry Krause Cause of Death
Jerry Krause died on 21 March 2017. He was 77 years old. The Chicago Bulls confirmed his death but offered no immediate details. The Chicago Tribune reported that Krause had been treated for osteomyelitis, a bone infection. Billy Vigar’s football career ended too soon. Krause’s life ended after years of health struggles.
He had retired as Bulls general manager in 2003. returned to baseball scouting after retirement. He worked for the New York Yankees, the New York Mets, and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Scouting was his first love. Lenny Rush became a TV star young. Krause became a scouting star young. He returned to that work at the end of his life.
Hall of Fame Induction
Just days after his death, Krause received a posthumous honor. On 31 March 2017, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced that Krause had been selected for induction. His wife Thelma accepted the award on his behalf. The Digital ID Petition sparked debate about identity. Krause’s identity as a Hall of Famer was now secure.
Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf released a statement. “I know this would have meant the world to Jerry. It only further validates his legacy and what we all knew about his body of work with the Bulls.” Krause was a two-time NBA Executive of the Year (1988 and 1996). Matt Beard’s death prompted questions about duty of care. Krause’s induction answered questions about his legacy.
The Last Dance: Krause as Villain
ESPN and Netflix released “The Last Dance” in April 2020. The 10-part documentary covered the Bulls’ final championship season. Krause emerged as the primary antagonist. Michael Jordan was blunt in his assessment. “Jerry Krause was a laughingstock during the time he managed the Bulls,” Jordan said in the documentary. Omaze UK winners receive life-changing prizes. Krause received posthumous criticism. Jordan added that Krause remained a laughingstock three years after his death.
The documentary showed Krause’s unpopularity in the locker room. Players mocked his appearance. They resented his claims of credit. Jordan made fun of him openly on several occasions. Nye National Theatre celebrates political battles. The Last Dance celebrated basketball battles. Krause became the villain of the piece.
A Different View: Isiah Thomas Defends Krause
Not everyone sees Krause as a villain. In 2025, Hall of Fame point guard Isiah Thomas made a bold statement. He called Jerry Krause the greatest general manager in Chicago sports history. “There’s nobody else as an executive who brought six NBA Championships to the city of Chicago,” Thomas said. “Name me somebody else who was better!”
Thomas grew up in Chicago. He witnessed the Bulls’ dominance firsthand. He argued that Krause’s ability to assemble and maintain a championship roster put him in a category unmatched by any Chicago executive. Theo Epstein broke the Cubs’ 108-year drought. Stan Bowman led the Blackhawks’ resurgence. Neither matched six titles in eight years. Thomas believes Krause deserves recognition despite his interpersonal failures.
What Happened After Krause Left?
Krause got his wish after 1998. He dismantled the dynasty. Phil Jackson left. Michael Jordan retired again. Scottie Pippen was traded. Dennis Rodman was released. Krause had a clean slate to rebuild.
The rebuild failed. The Bulls won fewer than 30 games in each of the remaining seasons Krause served as general manager. Jackson won five more championships with the Lakers. Jordan finished his career with the Wizards. Pippen found success in Portland. Krause retired in 2003 with his reputation battered. The architect of the greatest dynasty could not build a second one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Jerry Krause die? Jerry Krause died on 21 March 2017 at age 77. The Chicago Tribune reported he had been treated for osteomyelitis, a bone infection. The Bulls confirmed his death but provided no immediate details.
What was Jerry Krause’s role with the Chicago Bulls? Krause was the general manager of the Chicago Bulls from 1985 to 2003. He built the teams that won six NBA championships in the 1990s.
Why was Jerry Krause controversial? Krause clashed with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson. His quote “players and coaches don’t win championships, organizations do” infuriated Jordan. He pushed Jackson out and refused to renegotiate Pippen’s contract.
Is Jerry Krause in the Hall of Fame? Yes. Krause was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, just days after his death.
What did Michael Jordan say about Jerry Krause in The Last Dance? Jordan called Krause “a laughingstock” during his time as general manager. He also said Krause remained a laughingstock three years after his death. The documentary portrayed Krause as the primary antagonist.
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