The sports world is mourning the loss of longtime Chicago Bulls broadcaster and three-time NBA champion Stacey King after new details emerged surrounding his death. King, who spent decades as one of the most recognizable voices in Chicago basketball, was found dead at his home in River Forest, Illinois, on June 7. He was 59.
Authorities told ESPN that King had suffered a fall at his residence, though officials continue to review the exact cause of death. An autopsy was conducted as part of that process.
The Chicago Bulls announced King's passing on the same day, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the NBA and the city he represented for more than three decades.
While many fans knew him for his energetic television calls and signature catchphrase, King first became part of Bulls history as a member of the franchise's first championship dynasty alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
Selected sixth overall in the 1989 NBA Draft out of the University of Oklahoma, King arrived in Chicago after one of the most decorated college careers in school history. He helped lead the Sooners to the 1988 national championship game and earned multiple national player-of-the-year honors during his senior season. Oklahoma later retired his No. 33 jersey, cementing his place among the program's all-time greats.
Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf remembered King as a figure whose impact extended far beyond the court. "Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization's history," Reinsdorf said in a statement.
Team president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf added that King had "a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal."
Although King's NBA playing career included stops with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Dallas Mavericks, Chicago remained the center of his professional identity. After retiring as a player and later coaching in the Continental Basketball Association, he transitioned into broadcasting.
Beginning with pregame and postgame coverage before moving into the analyst chair full-time, King became a fixture on Bulls telecasts for nearly 20 years.
His broadcasting career ultimately introduced him to an entirely new generation of fans. Known for memorable nicknames, quick humor, and his famous "Gimme the Hot Sauce" call, King transformed routine game broadcasts into must-watch television.
Just weeks before his death, he spoke about his love for the job on his podcast, saying, "It never seems like work for me."
