The Chicago Bulls are known for having one of the NBA’s greatest dynasties with NBA legend Michael Jordan. With Jordan’s supremacy, the team won six NBA titles between 1991 and 1998 with two three-peats.
However, former NBA star Isaiah Thomas argues that the Bulls’ success wasn’t mainly for Jordan. Thomas believes it wouldn’t have been possible without Jerry Krause, the team’s former general manager. Thomas stated his bold claim on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
“This is a bold statement coming: The Chicago Bulls never win a championship without Jerry Krause. Let it be known,” Thomas wrote in a post in the X.
Meanwhile, Thomas received support from another former NBA star, Ron Harper. Harper replied to Thomas’ X post and shared his support for Thomas’ claim.
“Yes for sure GM put teams together not players,” Harper wrote in the comment.
This is a bold statement coming: The Chicago Bulls never win a Championship without Jerry Krause. Let it be known. https://t.co/0k2YXJQAic
— Isiah Thomas (@IsiahThomas) August 22, 2024
Krause’s contributions are widely recognized as crucial in shaping the Bulls’ success during the 1990s.
Isiah Thomas Hails Jerry Krause as Chicago’s Greatest GM
Jerry Krause took on the role of general manager for the Chicago Bulls before the 1985–86 NBA season and remained in the position until 2003. He is widely recognized for his pivotal role in drafting Michael Jordan in 1984 and building a championship-winning team around him.
After realizing that Jordan needed additional support to secure titles, Krause made key decisions, including drafting Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant in 1987 and B.J. Armstrong in 1989. These moves were instrumental in shaping the Bulls into a dominant force in the NBA. In a recent X post, Isiah Thomas has also praised Krause’s tenure as the Bulls’ GM.
“I can argue that Jerry Krause in basketball was the best general manager in Chicago’s sports history, as well as in football, baseball, hockey, etc”, Thomas wrote in his X post.
Krause passed away in 2017 at the age of 77. Despite his passing, his legacy as the architect of the Bulls’ successful era endures.