The Chicago Bulls inducted their inaugural, 13-member Ring of Honor class on Friday night, but the night will be remembered by some for the wrong reason. Former general manager Jerry Krause, who died in 2017, was one of the inductees for his role in building Chicago’s 1990s dynasty, but Bulls fans booed him during the ceremony, causing his widow, Thelma, to be visibly shaken.
Fans likely were blaming Krause for how the dynasty ended, in large part to how the late general manager was portrayed in the documentary series The Last Dance, but the NBA world collectively came to Krause’s defense. Indeed, Bulls broadcaster Stacey King criticized fans for the action during the game against the Golden State Warriors, and many observers around the NBA took to social media to express their disappointment.
This has to be one of the more embarrassing moments in Chicago sports. Jerry Krause, whatever you think of how the Bulls dynasty ended, built a six-time champion. Worthy of this honor ten fold. Disgraceful to boo while his distraught widow watches on pic.twitter.com/vwTa7QgOmp
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) January 13, 2024
Anyone booing the memory of Jerry Krause is not only classless, but also clueless.
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) January 13, 2024
He built those teams: Phil, Scottie, Horace, Rodman, and kept the bench stocked with valuable role players.
So, if you boo his family you are not only a jerk, you also have no clue. #Bulls pic.twitter.com/8Ixrfk65IZ
The sight of Bulls fans booing the mention of the late Jerry Krause was disgusting. I hope you are proud of yourselves for making his widow that visibly shaken.
— Timothy Legler (@LegsESPN) January 13, 2024
He was a huge part of the winning that went on in the 90s. Regardless of your reasoning for that reaction, it was…
people I know. They have treated me and my family with nothing but respect and love. And they didn’t deserve what happened to them.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 13, 2024
For those who say, well, the boos were for Jerry and not her: Well, it doesn’t work that way. They cut that family deeply. (2/4)
Today we learned #Bulls fans are so stupid that they booed a deceased executive who won six rings instead of a living owner who was the actual cause of the problem.
— Patrick Nolan (@SoxMach_pnoles) January 13, 2024
Shame on everyone who did this. Even if you didn’t like Krause, he didn’t hear your boos, but this person did. https://t.co/znwJgehkNk
SHAME ON THOSE @chicagobulls fans who showed no CLASS in booing the announcement of JERRY KRAUSE as a member of the RING OF HONOR . Showed no heart with his wife Thelma sitting there visibly upset .TOTALLY EMBARRASSING! - via @ESPN App https://t.co/0NmKjpSQej
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) January 13, 2024
I get that Bulls fans weren't big fans of Krause, but read the room y'all. Bad look to make the man's widow have to hear boos during his announcement at the Ring of Honor. pic.twitter.com/S0NwGaB0Hj
— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) January 13, 2024
The bulls don’t win 6 championships without Krause .. regardless of feelings or mistakes. The Rodman deal cinched it .But other acquisitions were big like pippen in the trade. GM with 6 titles ,how’s the GMs since ? truth 👏🏀👍 #bulls
— Mike North (@North2North) January 13, 2024
Jerry was one of the all-time great GMs. He and Bob Myers are the only two GMs in NBA history to win two-thirds of their games in the playoffs https://t.co/lUCBFQVLVT https://t.co/fIN9FjtJVw
— Daryl Morey 🗽🏀 (@dmorey) January 13, 2024
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who played five seasons for the Bulls during the Krause era, explained how disappointed he was by the episode as well.
Steve Kerr on the booing of Jerry Krause: "It's shameful. It’s absolutely shameful. I'm devastated for Thelma and for the Krause family. What can we possibly be thinking?" pic.twitter.com/AFkm2rXsIN
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) January 13, 2024
Even current players were disappointed, as DeMar DeRozan mentioned how fans should be appreciative of the job that Krause did.
DeMar on the crowd booing Jerry Krause: “It just sucks their family had to endure something like that. You can never take away what he created. Without Jerry, there wouldn’t be the historic Chicago Bulls history. You gotta give him credit for as long as basketball is around.” pic.twitter.com/bkTaOJ8cz8
— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) January 13, 2024
The Bulls have had a rough time in recent years, as they have only reached the playoffs twice since 2015, losing in the first round both times. Fans are clearly frustrated with the organization in many ways, and that frustration came out in an ugly moment Friday.
