NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas has always carried the pride of Chicago with him. And when reflecting on the formative figures of his youth and the architects of basketball excellence in his hometown, Thomas is crystal clear about who deserves their flowers.
“Jerry Krause is the best general manager in Chicago sports history,” Thomas told me by phone. “There’s nobody else as an executive who brought six NBA Championships to the city of Chicago. Name me somebody else who was better!”
That respect from Thomas runs deeper than box scores and banners. Born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, he remembers how the city’s basketball culture—and the people behind the scenes—helped shape his journey.
“I’m from the West Side of Chicago and when I was a kid, Jerry Reinsdorf and his staff were always kind to me,” Thomas recalled. “They used to sneak me and the kids from the neighborhood into the arena. They treated me like family.”
Thomas’ gratitude for Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf still resonates today.
“I love how Jerry Reinsdorf treated young people and when I became a pro it was even cooler,” he continued. “In addition to Krause, I also appreciated the work of Rod Thorn and Joe O’Neil.”
Beyond the glitz of the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty years, Thomas recognized a loyalty that stretched beyond the hardwood—one that meant everything to a young kid from K-Town.
“When there was pressure for the Bulls to leave the West Side and move to the suburbs when I was a kid, the Bulls stayed put. That’s pressure and I always appreciated that they stayed.”
