Ex Bulls defensive stopper agrees with Isiah Thomas’ claim Michael Jordan doesn’t win a championship without Jerry Krause
The feud between Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan hasn’t subsided although both had long retired from playing basketball. Fans could even say that the beef has only grown over the years, particularly since the release of “The Last Dance.” Thomas demanded a public apology from the five-time MVP after the Chicago Bulls legend called him an "a**hole."
The animosity between the two started in the late 80s when Thomas' Detroit Pistons repeatedly faced Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in the playoffs. The “Bad Boys” won the 1989 and 1990 championships before the Bulls went on a three-peat.
An X (formerly Twitter) user named Mario Hostios posted that Jerry Krause was as important as Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson for the Bulls. According to him, the late former team general manager built the roster that allowed Jordan and Jackson to earn the accolades.
Isiah Thomas commented on that post:
“This is a bold statement coming: The Chicago Bulls never win a Championship without Jerry Krause. Let it be known.”
Ron Harper, one of Jordan’s teammates in the mid-90s, replied:
“Yes for sure GM put teams together not players”
Harper added a twist:
“He [Krause] did wanted to trade me after the 95 season”
In effect, Ron Harper agreed with Isiah Thomas that Michael Jordan would not have won a championship without Jerry Krause. “Harp” likely didn’t take a shot at Jordan but wanted to point out how crucial Krause was to the Bulls’ dynasty.
One of Krause’s most underrated moves, pointed out by Mario Hostios, was trading Charles Oakley to the Knicks, Jordan’s best friend with the Bulls. Chicago got Bill Cartwright, the starting center in the team’s first grand slam. “His Airness” was reportedly pissed off at Krause but later admitted the general manager had made the right call.
Among the players that Jerry Krause brought in to help Michael Jordan in the second championship were Steve Kerr, Ron Harper and Dennis Rodman. Kerr was superb off the bench while Harper and Rodman were part of the starting unit that routinely beat opponents.
Isiah Thomas added one key name to the Bulls’ second three-peat:
“Krause was brilliant and adding Toni [Kukoc] a 6”11 point Guard who can shoot the 3 brilliant”
Jerry Krause wasn’t perfect but the players he drafted, sent out, or traded for significantly helped build the Chicago Bulls dynasty. Isiah Thomas and Ron Harper agree on this point.
Isiah Thomas calls Jerry Krause a “genius,” finds it "sad" Michael Jordan and the Bulls did not respect the late GM
Isiah Thomas is standing by his statement that without Jerry Krause behind the scenes, Michael Jordan would not have won a championship. In a couple of back-and-forths with basketball fans, the 1990 NBA Finals MVP claimed:
“Jerry Krause, the architect of six NBA championships, is well respected by all NBA teams and franchises but not by the Bulls players. I find that to be very sad.”
Thomas added:
“I have great respect for Jerry Krause. He was a genius who deserved way more respect than the Bulls sadly gave him.”
Krause’s contribution to the Bulls dynasty has seemingly been overlooked. Michael Jordan couldn’t get out of the first round of the playoffs without a decent supporting cast. Since joining the team heading into the 1985-86 season, Krause steadily built the roster into a championship-contending team.
Despite painful losses to Isiah Thomas’ “Bad Boys,” Jordan and Co. eventually ruled the NBA. Following Jordan’s brief baseball fling, Krause again re-constructed the lineup for another three-peat.
Some fans probably remember him as the general manager who broke up the dynasty following “The Last Dance. For Isiah Thomas, Krause should have been given more credit for the Bulls’ success together with Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson.