Jerry Krause

Jerry Krause (April 6, 1939 – March 21, 2017) was an American sports scout and executive best known for his role as the general manager of the Chicago Bulls from 1985 to 2003, where he assembled the roster and staff that led the team to six NBA championships during the 1990s dynasty era. Born in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood to Jewish parents, Krause grew up in a non-athletic family but excelled in high school baseball before transitioning to professional scouting in both basketball and baseball. His early career included scouting for NBA teams like the Baltimore Bullets, where he helped identify Hall of Famers such as Earl Monroe and Wes Unseld, and later working as a baseball scout for organizations including the Chicago White Sox under owner Jerry Reinsdorf.

As Bulls general manager, Krause inherited a struggling franchise and methodically built it into a powerhouse by drafting key players like Horace Grant (10th overall, 1987) and B.J. Armstrong (9th overall, 1988), trading for Scottie Pippen from the Seattle SuperSonics in 1987, and selecting international prospect Toni Kukoč in the second round of the 1990 NBA draft. He also made pivotal mid-career moves, such as trading Charles Oakley to the New York Knicks for center Bill Cartwright in 1988, acquiring Dennis Rodman from the San Antonio Spurs in 1995, and signing role players including John Paxson, Steve Kerr, Ron Harper, and Bill Wennington to bolster the supporting cast around Michael Jordan. On the coaching front, Krause hired Phil Jackson as an assistant in 1987 and promoted him to head coach in 1989, while also bringing in assistants like Tex Winter to implement the triangle offense.

Jerry Krause was born on April 6, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois, to a Jewish family of modest means. His parents, Paul and Gertrude Krause, operated a delicatessen before transitioning to owning a shoe store, reflecting the working-class environment of Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood where the family resided. As their only surviving child—following the tragic losses of two earlier sons, one stillborn and the other shortly after birth—Krause grew up in a close-knit household that emphasized resilience and hard work.

The Krause family's working-class roots profoundly shaped his early life, instilling a strong work ethic and determination that would become hallmarks of his character. Raised in a neighborhood of immigrants and laborers, young Jerry navigated challenges as one of the few Jewish students at William Howard Taft High School, where he faced occasional bullying but remained focused on his interests. This background fostered his dedication, evident in his persistent involvement in local activities despite not being a star athlete himself.