When Michael Jordan was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, even though a full decade had passed since he last played for the Chicago Bulls, he couldn’t resist taking a jab at Jerry Krause.
The Bulls GM, who built the team that won six championships in six Finals appearances, reportedly received an invitation but chose not to attend because Tex Winter, the mastermind behind the triangle offense, had not yet been inducted.
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Jordan hurt Krause with his speech
During his speech, Michael sarcastically said he didn’t know who sent Jerry the invitation, but that it certainly wasn’t from him. He also referenced his famous statement that “organizations win championships,” saying he had never seen Jerry play through the flu in the Finals against the Utah Jazz.
Years later, on “The Vertical Podcast with Woj,” Krause opened about that moment and admitted that Jordan’s words had hurt him deeply.
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“Michael was smart enough to understand the organization. He understood what we had to do as an organization, and he was great with it. He never complained to me. Michael and I had some personal things. For one thing, his speech at the Hall of Fame, his induction, it ripped me pretty good,” Krause said.
“He didn’t understand that I wasn’t at that event because of him. I wasn’t there because I had made a promise that I would not walk into that building until Tex Winter was enshrined in that building, and I didn’t. That’s why I skipped Michael’s induction. Michael didn’t know that, he didn’t call me, didn’t ask me, didn’t know,” he added.
Mastermind behind a dynasty
It’s well known that their relationship throughout their time in Chicago was turbulent, to say the least. Both men had enormous egos and an unbreakable winning mentality, and neither was willing to back down.
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Krause’s vision was responsible for finally building a championship team around “His Airness” after years of wandering in mediocrity — not just a team but a dynasty. However, MJ from the start had his own vision on how to get things done, and Krause recalled a breaking point in their relationship during the 1985-86 season when MJ broke his foot and didn’t want to listen to his GM.
“I got scared as hell,” Krause said. “I talked to him and he said, ‘Jerry, I’m okay, I can play.’ I think there was a line between Michael and me at that point. I said, ‘Michael, you work for this team, I work for this team, we are employees of this team.’ He didn’t like that. Michael got mad when I said that. I could sense his madness. Well, I said the truth, but what are you gonna do?”
Jerry believed in Phil when no one did
They were bumping heads all the time, as Jordan believed that his timeless performances — alongside his teammates, of course — were the key reason the Bulls became what they were.
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However, from a pure basketball standpoint, while Jordan had every right to view himself as the centerpiece, Krause discovered Phil Jackson while coaching in Puerto Rico, as nobody in the league wanted him at the time. The legendary GM believed in him so much that after Jackson was rejected following his first interview with Chicago, he patiently waited two years for another opportunity to hire him.
He also brought Winter within the organization, who would go on to form a legendary partnership with Jackson. Krause wasn’t afraid to fire Doug Collins, even after the team reached the Eastern Conference finals in 15 years.
Built Chicago into a powerhouse
Krause also pulled off one of the greatest draft-night moves in NBA history when he managed to snatch Scottie Pippen from the Sacramento Kings at the last minute by arranging a trade with the Seattle SuperSonics, who picked before the Kings. He was convinced that Pippen and Jordan would form a duo capable of bringing championships to “The Windy City”, and he was right.
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But winning three titles in a row didn’t stop Krause from making brilliant moves. He persuaded Toni Kukoc to turn down far more money in Europe to join the Bulls and chase new challenges after conquering everything overseas.
Piece by piece, working tirelessly behind the scenes and far from the spotlight that always shone on Mike, Krause built a perfect team. Imagine if Jerry Reinsdorf hadn’t allowed Krause to take another chance on Jackson, or if they had stuck with Collins after reaching the ECF.
MJ would not be considered a GOAT without Krause
What if Krause didn’t pull off that last-minute draft-night trade for Pip, or if “The Waiter” had never come over from Europe? Suppose just one of those pieces had been missing. Would we still talk about the Bulls as the greatest team of all time, about Zen Master as the greatest coach ever, Pipen as the ultimate sidekick or MJ as the GOAT?
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Had they not won those titles in the 90s, none of them would have the same legacy – but Krause personally made sure that wasn’t the case. He deserves far more respect from Bulls fans, especially from Jordan, who, for years, dominated individually but never reached the mountaintop until Krause started building the dynasty around him.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.