After Jerry Krause’s Widow Suffers Emotional Setback, George Karl Rushes to Former Bulls GM’s Defence

The NBA community is quite disappointed by what happened at the inaugural Chicago Bulls Rings of Honor ceremony on Friday. The crowd’s disrespectful gesture toward their former GM Jerry Krause left everyone, including his widow, heartbroken. His contributions were pivotal in the creation of the legendary Bulls Dynasty. Following the incident, many, including former NBA Coach of the Year, George Karl, coach came forward to defend the 2x Executive of the Year.

Joining many netizens, George Karl also shared a post dedicated to Krause and his career.

George Karl emphasizes Jerry Krause’s efforts in the league

Karl noted the impact Jerry Krause had on his career. “I’ve owed Jerry Krause a large debt of gratitude for over 30 years. He saw my efforts with Real Madrid in the early 90s and helped reconnect me with the NBA and the Sonics. The story of modern basketball and the NBA cannot be told without Jerry!!” wrote Karl in his X post.

Karl, who is one of nine coaches in NBA history with at least 1,000 wins, had moved abroad after his coaching stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. After coaching Real Madrid in Liga ACB, Karl returned to the NBA as the coach of the Seattle Supersonics and things took off. He made his only Finals appearance with the Sonics in 1996, losing to Jerry Krause’s Bulls. He is someone who faced off against the dominating team Krause built and was understandably empathetic with the Krause family.

Thelma Krause represented her late husband at the Ring of Honor ceremony. However, the sudden boos by fans left her visibly in tears. Golden State Warriors coach and fellow Ring of Honor inductee Steve Kerr also publicly criticized the fans for their disrespectful outburst. Many within the basketball community found the gesture unacceptable, emphasizing Krause’s pivotal role in shaping the Bulls’ legacy.

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Since the incident, a wave of heart-melting messages emerged from fans to highlight Krause’s influence and positive impact. However, this raises a serious question as to what led to this unexpected display of dislike from Bulls’ fans. The answers, according to most, lie in the hit ESPN documentary, The Last Dance.

How is The Last Dance related to fans’ dislike for Jerry Krause?

In the gripping 10-episode series chronicling the Bulls dynasty, the portrayal of general manager Krause emerged as a contentious point. He was placed under a harsh spotlight in the documentary. The series laid bare the arguments between Krause and some of the team’s notable players, especially Michael Jordan.

Notably, the series had moments where Krause’s decisions were met with resistance, further souring his image. Voices from the basketball community have expressed concerns that the documentary’s portrayal could overshadow the former general manager’s contributions to the Bulls’ success.

READ MORE: Ex-bulls GM Jerry Krause, Who Feuded With Michael Jordan for Years, Shared Emotional Bond With Dennis Rodman: “Never Hurt Anybody but Himself”

Big names of the basketball world stepping forward to defend the 2x Executive of the Year, not only highlights their sportsmanship but also contributes positively to Krause’s legacy. Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.