Ever since the “Last Dance” documentary came out, it feels like the bandwagon for people who dislike former Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause has grown bigger than ever.
Viewers blamed him for tearing apart the dynasty, accused him of having too stern a mindset and believed he refused to let Michael Jordan take full command of the team because he wanted to be recognized as the true alpha.
Advertisement
But for Horace Grant, who knew the atmosphere inside the Bulls locker room during that era, that narrative has always been far more complicated.
On the contrary, the four-time NBA champion believes Krause never received the love and appreciation for building two solid teams capable of chasing six championships, making it clear that he would never stoop down to label Krause as the villain for being blunt.
Grant was a Krause fan
When Chicago honored the legends of the 1990s during the “Ring of Honor” ceremony in 2024, the different players were wholeheartedly appreciated by the fans. When the late Jerry Krause’s name was announced, with his widow, Thelma, present inside the United Center, the crowd erupted with boos, bringing her to tears.
Advertisement
That moment symbolized how many fans still resent him for breaking the Bulls dynasty despite the fact that players like Mike wanted to continue under the guidance of coach Phil Jackson.
Horace addressed that hatred directly during his appearance on the “All The Smoke” podcast with Matt Barnes. He acknowledged that Krause was blunt and direct, but never hid the truth or made power plays behind backs like other general managers. Put simply, Krase never pretended what he was not.
Moreover, Grant understood firsthand when he saw Krause’s upfront demeanor that while it could be polarizing, the latter never intended to make things personal, rather challenge players in ways that he saw fit, to help them elevate their production and importance in the team hierarchy.
Advertisement
“Love Jerry. Respected Jerry because it takes a lot to put a team together to win six championships. That guy never got the knowledge or praise that he deserved, man. He was honest with you,” Grant said.
“I remember Jerry Krause saying to my agent and I’m sitting right there, ‘I would trade him right now for AC Green.’ It crushed me, I just got up and left. I’m like, ‘Okay, I got to prove his a— wrong.'”
Krause was the catalyst for the Bulls
Jerry, in Horace’s view, had a clear understanding of how to build a championship-caliber team. Having worked as a scout until 1984, he had firsthand knowledge about the type of players who complemented superstars and elevated a team’s winning prowess.
Advertisement
So, whether it was getting John Paxson, Grant and BJ Armstrong, or Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, and Toni Kukoc, Krause knew exactly the kind of players who could thrive next to Jordan and Pippen and help the team win championships one after the other.
But even when Grant acknowledges how the polarizing nature of Krause can easily make fans dislike him, he wanted everyone to understand the bigger picture of who played a huge role in making the Bulls as successful as they were in the ’90s.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.