The late Jerry Krause is blamed by many for breaking up the iconic Chicago Bulls team. The former GM was not ready to extend Phil Jackson’s contract and he wanted to rebuild. This did not sit well with many and it was evident the fans had not forgotten during the Bulls Ring of Honor event. But many feel the boos in United Center last weekend were unwarranted.

After all, Krause was a major reason behind forming a great around Michael Jordan which led to the six championships. Furthermore, Jerry Krause’s widow, Thelma was driven to tears upon hearing the fans boo her late husband. Even Bulls star DeMar DeRozan called out the disrespect later than night. Now, another former All-Star has spoken up in defense of Jerry Krause.

Recently, former Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas gave his honest thoughts about the whole ordeal. Agent Zero expressed that Krause deserves more respect from the Bulls’ fanbase for his incredible work off the court. He even compared Jordan’s unsuccessful ownership stint to make his point.

Arenas said, “You had two titans: Jordan and Krause. That were battling. And Jordan was the individual, Krause was a team person. Everything Jordan wanted to do, he went opposite. Looking at how Jordan and how he was picking players in Charlotte, Krause is smart. Krause is smart. He should be praised for what he was doing. Because every pick he made panned out!”

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MJ and Krause did not always agree with each other. Given the 5x NBA MVP’s superstardom, most fans sided with him. After the event turned ugly, many fans even blamed Jordan and The Last Dance docuseries for the boos because it portrayed Krause in a bad light. Players like Gilbert Arenas recognize the effort it took to build the Bulls dynasty – and Krause’s essential role in it.

Jerry Krause’s moves that helped Michael Jordan and the Bulls

As the General Manager of the Bulls, Jerry Krause was responsible for hiring Phil Jackson as an assistant coach and then promoting him to the head coach. Jackson’s impact on the team does not need any introduction. Michael Jordan and the Bulls started dominating after his arrival.

This is arguably Krause’s best move. However, he is not given enough credit because of his fallout with the coach later on. Also, it was not just Phil who joined the Bulls in 1987. Another important piece of the puzzle, Scottie Pippen joined the team that year as well. And the former GM made it happen.

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Many forget that Pippen was not drafted by Chicago. It was the Seattle SuperSonics who drafted him as the fifth overall pick. However, Krause and the front office were keen to get Scottie. So, on draft day, the Bulls traded their eighth pick Olden Polynice, and future picks for the future Hall of Famer.

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Furthermore, Krause managed to sign Pippen to one of the most affordable contracts ever. Even though the 7x NBA All-Star was not happy about it and it tarnished their relationship, it sure helped the Bulls add depth. These are just a few examples of his work. Over the years, Jerry Krause has made multiple other decisions that brought success to Chicago.