Bivši generalni menadžer Chicago Bullsa, Jerry Krause, preminuo je danas prema navodima Chicago Tribunea. Imao je 77 godina i već duži period se nosio sa zdravstvenim problemima, uključujući osteomyelitis (infekcija koštanog tkiva, uzrokovana mikrobakterijom).
Krause je obnašao funkciju generalnog menadžera Bullsa u periodu kada se franšiza okitila sa šest naslova prvaka u osam sezona. Odgovoran je za formiranje tandema Michael Jordan – Phil Jackson u Chicagu, a za svoja postignuća je nagrađen dva puta s titulom NBA Executive of the Year. Bullsi su dohvatili doigravanje u svakoj od trinaest sezona pod vodstvom Krausea, prije nego što je franšiza započela rebuilding 1998. godine.
„On je neumoran“, opisivao ga je vlasnik Bullsa, Jerry Reinsdorf. „Radio je predano i disciplinirano. Dolazio je na zagrijavanje prije svake utakmice, zanimale su ga vježbe zagrijavanja i plan utakmice. Tražio je uvijek informaciju više, komunicirao je s mnogim ljudima uključenim u igru. Pravio je sjajan posao od toga.“
Krause je preuzeo poziciju od Roda Thorna još 1985. godine, sezonu nakon draftiranja Jordana, a umirovio se 2003. Nalazio se u užem izboru za Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame u kategoriji za doprinos sportu.
U NBA krugovima je uvijek bio jako cijenjen zbog džentlmenskog karaktera i načina tretiranja suradnika koji su bili ispod njega u korporativnoj strukturi.
He called himself a scout at heart and always fought for behind-the-scenes people to get more credit. And he loved working for the Bulls.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 21, 2017
There's a side of Krause that not many people got to see and came out more fully as he aged. He loved the city of Chicago immensely.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 21, 2017
Igrači njegovih Bullsa su imali veliku dozu poštovanja prema Krauseu, a jedan od njih, legendarni centar Bill Cartwright se oprostio od bivšeg šefa ovim riječima:
Bill Cartwright on Jerry Krause: "He changed my life."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 21, 2017
Prisjetimo se njegovih GM poteza.
And the #1 best move by Jerry Krause:
July 1989: firing Doug Collins and promoting Phil Jackson to head coach. pic.twitter.com/i7NwzpF146
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) March 21, 2017
In the end, Krause traded Olden Polynice (the #8 pick) + other considerations to Seattle for Pippen.#JerryKrause #RIP #SeeRed #SixRings pic.twitter.com/cw8NOD6X0D
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) March 21, 2017
#2 June 1987: Bulls make draft-day trade for Scottie Pippen (#5 pick) and draft Horace Grant (#10). #JerryKrausehttps://t.co/M2dvtd26Cv pic.twitter.com/Ub0MChfJ5Z
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) March 21, 2017
#3 Oct 1995: Will Perdue for Dennis Rodman. No cash. No picks. A career backup for the GOAT rebounder. #JerryKrausehttps://t.co/iORp28euZU pic.twitter.com/KgYLQvjcgq
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) March 21, 2017
#4 June 1988: Charles Oakley for Bill Cartwright. MJ was pissed but even he became a believer. #JerryKrausehttps://t.co/ZCgbens8K0 pic.twitter.com/5dYRBNHgbI
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) March 21, 2017
#5 Feb. 1994: Bulls trade Stacey King for Luc Longley. A backup for a 3x champion starter. #JerryKrausehttps://t.co/1vLOie9fGd pic.twitter.com/xz4iby72b1
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) March 21, 2017
Počivao u miru.