The 97-98 Chicago Bulls was entrenched in drama. And the main event of this drama was Michael Jordan and Jerry Krause’s fall off. Jerry, who had effectively built the team, was proud of his work. He believed without him, the team wouldn’t have existed.
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But Michael couldn’t accept Jerry’s pride. He set on a mission to humiliate whenever possible. Despite his brutality, he never let another player diss the GM. Jordan, who is worth $2.2 billion now, noted that his teammates shouldn’t be allowed to disrespect Jerry Krause.
Michael Jordan was the only one allowed to humiliate Jerry Krause
Krause perhaps did deserve some credit for scouting players who would become an integral part of the championship dynasty. But Jerry was too ambitious in estimating his value. He began to believe he stood above the team, the athletes, and the coach.
Michael Jordan, who had been a part of the Bulls’ journey from nothing to global fame, found it difficult to agree with Jerry. After all, players are the ones who put their bodies and mind to the test. Krause, though a significant part of the franchise, wasn’t more important than the players.
This difference between Jordan and Krause started a war between the two. A war where Michael relentlessly bullied his GM and Krause quietly accepted the continuous badgering.
However, he wouldn’t allow any other player to insult Krause in the same manner. So, when Ron Harper tried to imitate Michael, he was immediately shut down.
In his book Michael Jordan: The Life, Roland Lazenby wrote of the interaction:
“Known for testing everybody on the team, Jordan had other targets besides Krause. “I remember one time, on a different trip,” Kerr recalled, “Michael started yapping from the back of the bus and Krause was up at the front. And Ron Harper kind of joined in, and then Michael quickly dismissed him, like,
‘No, no, you’re not allowed to do this. I’m only allowed to do this.'”
Krause’s insecurity caused the downfall of Bulls’ franchise
If Jerry had not fallen prey to his own insecurities, things would probably have ended differently for Chicago. His desire to let Phil Jackson go caused the complete collapse of the squad.
Krause eventually got his wish. Even after Michael Jordan brutally roasting for a few seasons, he was finally the only one left in Chicago. Phil was gone, Jordan was gone. No one left to challenge him. But unfortunately for Krause, it also spelled the end of Chicago’s winning days.
