Jerry Krause, longtime Bulls GM and architect of the team’s six championships during the ’90s, passed away on Tuesday at 77. Krause was with the organization for more than 18 years, and his tenure there wasn’t always a smooth one as he sometimes clashed with both Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
Following his death, however, Jordan took the high road and released a statement offering his condolences the Krause family while honoring the legacy he left behind in Chicago sports. Via TMZ Sports:
Jordan issued a statement to TMZ Sports through his rep saying, “Jerry was a key figure in the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s and meant so much to the Bulls, the White Sox and the entire city of Chicago.”
“My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Thelma, his family and friends.”
And Jordan wasn’t the only former player to speak publicly on his passing. Bulls exec John Paxon, who played with the Bulls during their first three-peat, wasn’t shy about heaping praise on the man who preceded him in the front office. Via NBA.com:
“I owe a lot to Jerry. If it weren’t for him bringing me to Chicago in 1985, I probably never would have been a Bull,” said Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson. “He had a great eye for talent, and his ability to build a team is unrivaled. He’s one of the best the league has ever seen. We’re keeping Thelma and his family in our thoughts and prayers.”
A few other players took to Twitter to offer their condolences as well:
So sad to hear of the passing of Jerry Krause one of the greatest GM's in NBA history & architect of the Bulls Dynasties of the 90's #RIPJK
— Stacey King (@Stacey21King) March 21, 2017
Bill Cartwright on Jerry Krause: "He changed my life."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 21, 2017
Legendary Bulls coach Phil Jackson issued the following statement via the Knicks:
The following is a statement from Knicks President Phil Jackson on the passing of Jerry Krause: pic.twitter.com/LI7UApKypL
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) March 21, 2017
The Bulls organization also released a formal statement on Krause’s passing, via NBA.com:
“The entire Bulls organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Jerry Krause,” said Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. “Jerry was one of the hardest working guys I have ever been around, and he was one of the best talent evaluators ever. Jerry played an integral role in our run of six championships in eight years. He truly was the architect of all our great teams in the ’90s. I would not have been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame if it were not for Jerry. We will miss him tremendously, and we send our thoughts and prayers to his wife Thelma and the Krause family.”
Pippen, however, has been conspicuously quiet. The two famously had a falling out in 1992 after Krause decided to draft Toni Kukoc – who played the same position as Pippen – which gave birth to one of the most gloriously-petty on-court displays we’ve ever witnessed as both Pippen and Jordan resolved to completely humiliate Kukoc during the Barcelona Olympics. But it’s certainly possibly Pippen simply hasn’t checked his Twitter feed today or that, like a lot of us, he’s not into the whole public grieving thing.
(NBA.com)
