The Bulls announced King's death on Sunday, June 7
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Stacey-King-United-Center-Arco-Arena-060726-30132c227c204a149e38e78f6a0db77c.jpg "Former NBA player and sports announcer, Stacey King and sports announcer Adam Amin look on during the Toronto Raptors v Chicago Bulls game on March 21, 2022 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Stacey King #34 of the Chicago Bulls shoots a foul shot against the Sacramento Kings during a game played on February 4, 1991, 1988 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.")
Credit: Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty; Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Former Chicago Bulls star Stacey King has died at the age of 59
- The former No. 6 overall NBA Draft pick helped the Bulls win three consecutive championships alongside Michael Jordan
- After retiring, King became a beloved voice of Bulls basketball
Stacey King, the former Chicago Bulls player who won three NBA championships before becoming one of the franchise's most recognizable broadcasters, has died. He was 59.
The Bulls announced King's death on Sunday, June 7. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
“Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization's history,” Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement shared on the team's official Facebook page.
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“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,” he continued.
Reinsdorf added: “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. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
"Stacey loved being a Bull," Bulls president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf said in the same statement. "He had a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal."
King was selected by the Bulls with the sixth overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft after a standout collegiate career at the University of Oklahoma, where he earned consensus All-American honors, per ESPN.
The University of Oklahoma retired King's No. 33 jersey in 2008.
Credit: Ray Amati/NBAE via Getty
Playing alongside Michael Jordan, the 6-foot-11 center was a member of the Bulls teams that captured three consecutive NBA championships from 1991 to 1993. King later played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks before retiring from the NBA in 1997, per NBA.com.
Though King enjoyed a successful playing career, many fans came to know him through his work in the broadcast booth.
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After briefly coaching following his retirement, King joined the Bulls' broadcast team in the mid-2000s and spent nearly two decades calling games.
His energetic style made him a fan favorite and one of the most recognizable voices in Chicago sports.
Among his best-known expressions were "Gimme the hot sauce!" and "Sriracha!" — phrases that became synonymous with big Bulls moments and endeared him to generations of fans.
