From March 26, 1985, until April 4, 2003, Jerry Krause was responsible for shaping the Chicago Bulls' roster as vice president of basketball operations. He called the shots and yet, even after six championships, could never shake off the status of the underdog. He conducted 37 trades to win the first championship for the Bulls, was constantly evaluating talent and throughout his tenure remained who he was at heart--a scout. Krause's fate was closely tied to his surroundings, the people he employed and the ones he ignored for certain positions. This book examines Jerry Krause as a basketball scout and executive. Rather than redirecting hate, casting blame or clearing anybody's name, it shows the other side of the Bulls dynasty-- with a sharp focus on roster construction--and the interactions between the team, the staff and the front office. This is a story about making hard decisions and learning how to live with them.
“A must read!” —USA TODAY How big was the pressure? How deep was the division? Those were the questions that would beg answering long after the Chicago Bulls had completed their strife-ridden 1997-98 season in the National Basketball Association. BLOOD ON THE HORNS details the infighting & conflict between Jordan, coach Phil Jackson, teammate Scottie Pippen and the team's general manager, Jerry Krause, and managing partner, Jerry Reinsdorf. Through exclusive interviews with the team and staff, Lazenby expertly recreates the drama of 1997-98 and the Bulls’ struggle to remain a team.
A gorgeous and comprehensive look at one of the NBA’s most storied and valuable franchises—from their first season to Michael Jordan and beyond. The Chicago Bulls have been building their highly decorated legacy for five decades now. To this day, the Bulls are one of the most popular teams the world over. Six championships, the league’s best-ever single-season record, and perhaps the greatest player of all time will do that, and Bulls fans wouldn’t have it any other way. From the beginning, the Bulls have set records. They are still the only NBA expansion team to make the playoffs in their inaugural season with the best record ever for a first-year team. They soared to new heights after drafting Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft. Joined by fellow Hall of Famers Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson, the team won two sets of three consecutive championships in the 90s. The new millennium saw repeated attempts to reignite the magic of the Jordan-era Bulls, but soon a new identity emerged of tough, hardworking team players reminiscent of the Bulls’ earlier years. The Chicago Tribune Book of the Chicago Bulls is a decade-by-decade look at the pride of the city’s West Side produced by the award-winning journalists who have been documenting their home team since the beginning. This beautiful volume details every era in the team’s history through original reporting, in-depth analysis, interviews, archival photos, comprehensive timelines, rankings of top players by position, and other features. Profiles on key coaches, Hall of Famers, and MVPs provide an entertaining, blow-by-blow look at the team’s greatest successes and most dramatic moments.
This book looks at what happened as the team ventured into the unknown with Scottie Pippen struggling under the mantle of leadership; Horace Grant trying to perform under the pressures of impending free agency; and Phil Jackson grappling with fans' expectations. Transition Game examines the joys and uncertainties of both basketball and life as Bill Cartwright and John Paxson look toward retirement, as Toni Kukoc discovers both America and the NBA, and as new faces with fascinating pasts battle the odds.
The New York Times Bestseller, updated With a New Introduction This is the 20th anniversary of the explosive bestseller that changed the way the world viewed one of the greatest athletes in history, revealing for the first time Michael Jordan's relentless drive to win anything and everything, at any cost. NBA Hall of Fame columnist Sam Smith had unlimited access to the team and its players during their championship 1991-92 season, which he details in the new introduction, along with candid revelations about his sources, and the reaction from Michael, his teammates, the media, and the fans when the book blasted onto the bestseller lists in 1992 (where it stayed for three months). With more than a million copies in print, The Jordan Rules remains the ultimate inside look at one of the most legendary teams in sports history.
Dive into the compelling narrative of 'Balancing Brilliance and Backlash in the NBA: Navigating Success and Controversy-Jerry Krause's Impact on the NBA.' This riveting book explores the life and career of Jerry Krause, the enigmatic architect behind the Chicago Bulls' dynasty. Unravel the intricacies of Krause's strategic brilliance as he orchestrated championship-winning teams, juxtaposed against the tumultuous waves of controversy that often followed him. From scouting gems to navigating the challenges of leadership, this book provides an in-depth examination of Krause's enduring impact on the NBA, showcasing the delicate balance between achieving greatness and weathering the storms of criticism. A must-read for basketball enthusiasts and those fascinated by the complex dynamics of success and controversy in the world of professional sports.
The Chicago Bulls are one of basketball's most storied teams—from Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson to Hall of Famers and MVPs, the Bulls' NBA championship legacy will likely never be surpassed. Author and Bulls' beat reporter Kent McDill provides a closer look at the great moments of the 1990s championship teams, which saw the Bulls win six championships in eight seasons. Through multiple interviews conducted with current and past Bulls, readers will meet the players, coaches, and management and share in their moments of greatness and defeat. If These Walls Could Talk: Chicago Bulls will make fans a part of the Bulls' history from a new perspective.
An unflinching memoir from the six-time NBA Champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and Hall of Famer, revealing how Scottie Pippen, the youngest of twelve, overcame two family tragedies and universal disregard by college scouts to become an essential component of the greatest basketball dynasty of the last fifty years.
Chicago Bulls fans thought they had it so good. From 1991 through 1993 the Bulls won three consecutive NBA titles behind the talents of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. When Jordan retired in the fall of 1993, those fans thought the good times were over. In the fall of 1995, however, Jordan was ready to make a full return to NBA action, Pippen was still the best number-two man in basketball, and then bad-boy Dennis Rodman was signed to join the franchise that had grown to hate him. Suddenly, the Bulls had the greatest team in NBA history. Tales from the Chicago Bulls Locker Room tells some of the inside stories from that team, the one that won three more NBA titles from 1996 through 1998. Seen from the eyes of three-time NBA champion center Bill Wennington, the Bulls come to life from an insider’s point of view. Followed everywhere and talked about endlessly, the 1995-96 Bulls captured a national and international audience and continued to keep all eyes upon them for three seasons. Fans will read about some of the most famous names in basketball history. Jordan, the demanding team leader; Pippen, the true teammate; Rodman, the reckless rebounder; Toni Kukoc, the outsider; Ron Harper, the former star-turned-role player; Luc Longley, the affable Aussie; Steve Kerr, the John Paxson sequel; all playing for Phil Jackson, the Zen master coach. These are stories fans have not heard before, but it’s not their fault. They just weren’t there the way Bill Wennington was. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
This one-of-a-kind encyclopedia captures the entire history of the Chicago Bulls franchise in words and pictures, from the difficult early years to the fabulous 1990s when they won six NBA titles in eight years. Packed with historical information, revealing anecdotes, personality pieces, and comprehensive statistics on every player who has worn a Bulls uniform, The Chicago Bulls Encyclopedia is the definitive book for every Bulls fan and follower. This is their story and how they came to be. Chicago was granted an expansion franchise after previous NBA teams had failed, and why the Bulls had only seven winning seasons in eighteen years prior to Michael Jordan's arrival; The Dynasty: the Bulls' rise from contender to three-time NBA champions, Michael Jordan's retirement, and the subsequent three title teams; Michael Jordan: the greatest player in the history of team sports and his impact on the Chicago Bulls, the NBA, and the world at large; The Players: a look at the careers of twelve outstanding players, including Norm Van Lier, Bob Love, Scottie Pippen, Jerry Sloan, and Chet Walker, and what each meant to the Bulls franchise; The Defining Moments: long-time staffers offer revelations and insights into the team's evolution. 1988-91 - one of the most intense rivalries in sports history; the New York Knicks, 1991-96; The Coaches: the styles and personalities of the twelve men who have coached the Bulls over the years, the best known of whom are Phil Jackson and Dick Motta; and The Owners: Jerry Reinsdorf and Jerry Krause put the pieces of the dynasty together and made moves to keep the Bulls at the top. There is also coverage of earlier Bulls owners and administrations: How the Bulls Stack Up: Are they the greatest of all time? A look at the Bulls' place among other NBA championship teams such as the Celtics of the 1960s and the Lakers of the 1980s; and The Stats: The most complete listing of individual and team statistics available.
