Stacey King, a member of the Chicago Bulls’ first championship dynasty and a longtime television analyst for the franchise, has died at the age of 59, the team announced Sunday. The Bulls said they were informed of King’s death by a family member. No cause of death was immediately released, but as reported by David Kaplan of ESPN Chicago, King passed away following an accidental fall at his home.
Selected sixth overall in the 1989 NBA Draft out of the University of Oklahoma, King spent five seasons with Chicago and was part of the Bulls teams that captured three straight NBA titles from 1991 through 1993 alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. He later played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics before retiring in 1997.
King averaged 6.4 points and 3.3 rebounds during his eight NBA seasons. Before entering the league, he starred at Oklahoma, helping lead the Sooners to the 1988 NCAA championship game and earning first-team All-America honors. The school later retired his No. 33 jersey.
Following a brief coaching stint in the Continental Basketball Association, King returned to the Bulls organization as a broadcaster during the 2006-07 season. Over nearly two decades, he became one of the most recognizable voices in Chicago sports, earning an Emmy Award and developing a devoted following with his energetic style and memorable catchphrases, including “Gimme the hot sauce!” He also hosted his popular weekly podcast Gimme the Hot Sauce, and was actively analyzing the ongoing NBA Finals on social media as recently as Friday evening. Just last month, King remarked on his podcast about how much he truly loved his second career: “It’s a fun job. It never seems like work for me. Every night, I go to work, win, lose or draw, I’m having fun.”
In a statement, Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf called King “a cherished member of the Bulls family. 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.” Team president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf added that “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… Whether it was through a broadcast, a conversation, or a photo with a fan, Stacey made people feel seen and valued.”
King leaves behind a legacy that extended well beyond his playing career and made him a beloved figure among generations of Chicago basketball fans. He is survived by his wife, Debi, and his four sons. Funeral and memorial arrangements have not yet been announced by the family.
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