Chicago Bulls legend and three time NBA champion Stacey King dies at 59

The Chicago Bulls announced heartbreaking news on Sunday. Stacey King, a three-time NBA champion with the franchise and one of the most recognizable voices in Bulls basketball, has died at the age of 59. The team confirmed his death through social media but did not provide a cause.

For more than three decades, King remained closely connected to the Bulls. He first helped the team win championships during the early 1990s and later became a fan favorite as a television analyst. His energetic style, humor, and deep love for basketball made him a familiar figure for generations of Chicago sports fans. Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf described King as a cherished member of the organization whose impact stretched far beyond the court.

Stacey King’s Journey From Chicago Bulls Champion to One of the Most Recognizable Voices in Basketball

Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, Stacey King made a name for himself long before reaching the NBA. He starred at the University of Oklahoma under head coach Billy Tubbs and helped lead the Sooners to the 1988 NCAA championship game. During his final college season in 1988-89, King averaged 26.0 points and 2.3 blocks per game, earning First-Team All-American honors. Oklahoma later retired his jersey in 2008.

The Chicago Bulls selected King with the sixth overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft. His arrival came at the start of one of the most successful periods in franchise history. Playing alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen under head coach Phil Jackson, King was part of the Bulls teams that won NBA championships in 1991, 1992, and 1993.

During his four full seasons in Chicago, he became a reliable player off the bench. Midway through the 1993-94 season, the Bulls traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He later played for the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Dallas Mavericks before ending his NBA career in 1997.

After retiring, King moved into coaching and eventually reached the CBA Finals as head coach of the Rockford Lightning during the 2001-02 season. However, many fans came to know him best through broadcasting. For the past 19 seasons, he served as a television analyst for Bulls games and also hosted the popular podcast “Gimme the Hot Sauce.”

In a statement released by the Bulls, Jerry Reinsdorf said: “Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history.”

Bulls president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf added: “Stacey loved being a Bull. 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.”