While Michael Jordan and Jerry Krause are forever linked as key figures behind the Chicago Bulls dynasty, their relationship was tense.
From the moment Krause decided to trade MJ's close friend, Charles Oakley, to the New York Knicks in 1988 to his decision not to bring back Phil Jackson as the Bulls' head coach after 1998, Mike found it difficult to align with his choices. However, Jordan's frustration with the general manager peaked when he discovered Jerry's all-time starting five, which excluded him, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.
MJ's all-time starting five
"Mr. Air" valued two traits in his teammates above all—a heart to remain composed under pressure and a mental toughness to make a game-winning impact even on their worst days. With these qualities in mind, when asked about his all-time starting five in an interview with Playboy in 1992, Michael picked two of his greatest nemeses from the 1980s, who, season after season, led their respective teams to NBA championships.
"Me and Magic, Bird, Worthy, McHale or Malone, David Robinson or Abdul-Jabbar," Jordan said .
Mike's rationale seemed sound. Not only did all the players he mentioned had the ability to make a game-winning impact through their contributions on both ends of the floor, but each of them was composed enough even when the lights were the brightest. After all, that's how MJ was as a player.
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Mike didn't appreciate Krause's picks
Jordan, Bird, and Magic were clearly the best players of their era. However, Krause, who had worked as an agent earlier in his career, selected stars from the 1960s for his all-time starting five. Jordan, unsurprisingly, didn't appreciate this.
So, when asked to contemplate if his all-time lineup was capable of beating any other dream five, Mike expressed his annoyance with his GM's picks.
"I did this with Jerry Krause once. He chose Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, Jerry West. At small forward, he had Dr. J. The power forward was Gus Johnson. I told him I'd kill him," Jordan said. "Of all players, the all-time greats, he left off Magic, and he left off Bird. He was excluding me. He put West at two-guard."
While Oscar Robertson was the league's first-ever triple-double machine, Bill Russell was synonymous with winning, having secured 11 NBA championships. Similarly, while Jerry West and Julius "Dr. J" Erving were two of the greatest players in NBA history, Gus Johnson was also one of the most underrated players in the league in the mid-'60s.
That said, it does seem that Jordan's annoyance with Krause's five stemmed from the ongoing tension between the two. After all, MJ did prove his worth to Jerry. That alone, in Mike's eyes, at least, should've secured him a spot on his all-time lineup.
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