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
