When Jerry Reinsdorf hired Jerry Krause as general manager of the Bulls, just about everybody laughed. And when they stopped laughing, many people called Reinsdorf to tell him what a big mistake he was making.
Eleven years and 3 3/4 rings and counting later, the laughing has pretty much stopped, but Krause still doesn’t get the recognition he deserves as one of the best general managers in sports. And he probably never will.
That not only is unfair, but also unfortunate because his is a great success story in the classic, up-by-your-bootstraps tradition. It would make a great movie. The working title would be “The Little Nerd Who Could,” with Danny DeVito a natural for the lead–which may be one reason why the masterful job he has done with the Bulls goes largely unappreciated.
Even being honored as executive of the year has done little to call attention to the fact there are two great general managers named Jerry in the NBA.
Jerry West, of course, was born to the manor. Not only was he one of the greatest players ever, but also he looks the part of a successful executive.
Krause, on the other hand, spent much of his early career beating the bushes for baseball and basketball talent as a scout for the Chicago White Sox and assorted NBA teams and he still looks more like a sleuth (his old nom de scout) than a vice president/basketball operations (his formal title).
And although both were blessed with great players to build around, West has received full credit for the shrewd moves he made to build on his blessing, while Krause has received next to none for his equally shrewd moves.
Au contraire, some of his shrewdest ones were loudly opposed by Michael Jordan. Even though subsequent events proved that in almost every case Krause was right and His Michaelness was wrong, this has done little to change the misperception of Krause that criticism has helped reinforce and perpetuate.
Jordan is still considered more infallible than all the popes combined, and Krause is still considered . . . well, Krause.
This even though he has been responsible for the acquisition of every player on the current roster except Jordan, and has assembled what is widely (and correctly) regarded as the best coaching staff in basketball.
Krause reminisced Thursday about that staff and the conversation he had with Reinsdorf about his very first hire, which he said went as follows:
Krause: “There’s a guy down in Louisiana I want as an assistant coach. Name’s Tex Winter.”
Reinsdorf: “Who is Tex Winter?”
Krause: “Tex Winter is Charlie Lau in sneakers.”
As the man who wrote the book on the triangle offense, Winter is indeed to basketball offense what the late, great batting coach was to baseball offense.
Phil Jackson also was hired as an assistant. But only after being passed over once.
Krause liked Jackson’s scouting reports as a Continental Basketball Association coach, and brought him in for a visit with head Coach Stan Albeck. But Albeck was turned off by Jackson’s then-straggly look.
When Doug Collins replaced Albeck, Jackson was brought in again, with Krause advising him to lose the hippie look this time.
“I asked Doug how he liked him, Doug said fine, and I said, `I like him, too, so he’s hired,’ ” Krause said.
More dialogue from Krause’s memory tape:
Krause: “We can’t win a championship with Doug Collins.”
Reinsdorf: “Wait a minute. You hired him and he won 50 games and 47 games and now you want to fire him. Maybe there’s something wrong with you.”
But Krause’s arguments prevailed, and he fired Collins and promoted Jackson, a move, which like so many he’s made, was controversial at the time but turned out to be inspired.
And while his ears don’t ring with praise, his fingers do.
