Stacey King, the longtime Chicago Bulls broadcaster and a three-time NBA champion as a player with the franchise in the early 1990s, has died, the team announced Sunday on social media. He was 59 years old. The team did not share a cause of death.
King played eight seasons in the NBA from 1989-97, including his first 4 1/2 with the Bulls — a period that coincided with the team’s first three-peat led by stars Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen and head coach Phil Jackson. He later spent the past 19 seasons as a television analyst on the team’s game broadcasts and hosted a popular podcast called “Gimme the Hot Sauce.”
“Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history,” Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement released by the team. “His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades — first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans. We will miss him deeply and remember the joy, energy, humor, candor, and passion he brought to our organization, our broadcasts, and our fans every day.”
The Bulls drafted King with the sixth pick of the 1989 NBA Draft, months after he wrapped up a four-year college career with the Oklahoma Sooners that included a trip to the 1988 national title game. The 6-foot-11 big man had 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in that game, which the Sooners ultimately lost to Danny Manning and the Kansas Jayhawks.
“Stacey loved being a Bull,” president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf said via statement. “You could feel it in everything he did — the way he played, the way he called games and the way he connected with our fans. He had a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal.
“He brought an energy and love for the game that came through in every broadcast, helping fans feel connected to our teams. Whether it was through a broadcast, a conversation or a photo with a fan, Stacey made people feel seen and valued.”
This story will be updated.
