The basketball world lost one of its most recognizable voices on Sunday when the Chicago Bulls announced the death of Stacey King, a three-time NBA champion and the unmistakable presence behind decades of Bulls broadcasts. King was 59.
For younger fans who never saw him in a uniform, Stacey King was Bulls basketball—the energetic, larger-than-life voice that made every game feel essential. But his journey to that microphone began three decades earlier, when the Bulls selected him sixth overall in the 1989 NBA Draft. As a big man for Chicago, King became part of one of sports’greatest dynasties, winning three consecutive championships alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen during the franchise’s legendary early-1990s run.
After his playing days ended—which included stops with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, and Boston Celtics—King found his true calling as a broadcaster. His championship pedigree gave him credibility, but it was his personality that made him unforgettable. The catchphrases, the humor, the unbridled passion for every play—these weren’t just gimmicks. They were King’s way of bringing fans into the experience, turning box scores into stories.
What made King special was that rare combination of legitimacy and accessibility. He’d been there. He’d won at the highest level. Yet he never lost the ability to get excited, to celebrate with the audience, to make Chicago fans feel like insiders on something sacred. That’s a skill that can’t be taught, and it’s increasingly rare in a media landscape that often mistakes distance for authority.
King leaves behind three championship rings and countless broadcasts that defined what it sounded like to care about basketball without pretension. That’s a legacy that extends far beyond statistics or titles.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.