What Ignited Michael Jordan & Jerry Krause Beef?

The controversy surrounding the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor ceremony on January 13 thrust Michael Jordan and Jerry Krause into the public eye. Upon hearing the late Krause’s name called out during the prize announcement, supporters booed him, causing his wife to start crying.

What Ignited Michael Jordan & Jerry Krause Beef?

From 1985 until 2003, Krause served as general manager of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, who won six NBA titles between 1991 and 1998 during the heyday of Michael Jordan.

However, things were not going well between the two; Jordan was incensed at a remark that the Bulls head coach had made that muddled their legacy.

After this garnered media attention, Jordan and Krause’s past was investigated. This resulted in the discovery of several passages from the February 2000 book “Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made,” written by David Halberstam.

Halberstam communicated that Krause referred to Jordan as “property” in an excerpt:

“In a conversation with Jordan, he rebuffed one of Jordan’s pleas to play and said that he and Jerry Reinsdorf would make the decision because Jordan was their property.”

“It was a colossally stupid thing to say about any player, particularly a black one, and it was a statement that Michael Jordan never forgot and never forgave.”

Jordan was noticeably absent from the Ring of Honor event, which was arranged to honor the accomplishments of the NBA team and bring together some of its finest stars.

At the first Ring of Honor banquet, thirteen athletes, businesspeople, and coaches were inducted. Despite informing the organizers ahead of time that he couldn’t attend, Jordan failed to show up.

After these same lines were shared on Reddit, followers responded with their thoughts on the Jordan-Krause feud. Some supporters think Jerry Krause merits every jeer he received at the Ring of Honor event.

Why don’t Bulls fans like Jerry Krause?

To put it plainly, Chicagoans do not much like Krause, the Bulls’ general manager from 1985 to 2003. Jordan held a deep dislike for him and is commonly held accountable for Jackson’s 1998 departure, which sparked the end of the team’s dynasty.

Is Jerry Krause in the Hall of Fame?

Posthumously, he was admitted into the 2017 Basketball Hall of Fame class. Thelma Krause, Krause’s widow, attended her husband’s induction into the Ring of Honor on January 12, 2024, at the Chicago Bulls’ home game against the Golden State Warriors. Krause was recognized for his contributions to the team’s success.

 

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