NBA Champion and Television Broadcaster
The voice that brought 'the hot sauce' to Chicago basketball for two decades has gone quiet. Stacey King, the three-time NBA champion and iconic television color commentator for the Chicago Bulls, died on June 7, 2026, at the age of 59. While he first entered the city's consciousness as a bruising big man in the paint, it was his second act behind the microphone that cemented his status as a local legend. Starting in 2006 as a studio analyst for pregame and postgame shows, King brought a level of spicy energy that the broadcast booth had never seen. By 2007, he became the permanent color commentator, transforming every Bulls telecast into a high-octane conversation with the fans. He was the man who made 'Sriracha!' a household term and turned 'Gimme the hot sauce!' into a rallying cry for a new generation of basketball enthusiasts. As noted by Sports Business Journal, his transition from the hardwood to the headset redefined his identity within the organization. Michael Reinsdorf, the Chicago Bulls President and CEO, observed that King loved being a Bull, and that passion was palpable in everything he did: the way he played, the way he called games, and the way he connected with the fans. He was 'Too big, too strong, too fast, too good!' not just as an athlete, but as a personality who refused to be ignored. His colleague Kendall Gill remembered him as a man who was respected by the media and always told the truth about what he saw on the court. Before he was the voice of the United Center, King was a force of nature in the Sooner State. Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, he rose to national prominence at the University of Oklahoma between 1985 and 1989. He was the engine of a dominant era, leading the Sooners to the NCAA national championship game in 1988. By 1989, he was a consensus First Team All-American and was named the Sporting News Player of the Year, as recorded by CBS Sports. This collegiate dominance made him the No. 6 overall pick for the Chicago Bulls in the 1989 NBA Draft. His early years in Chicago were defined by the grit of the Jordan era. King earned a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 1990 and quickly became a vital piece of the championship puzzle. He was a member of the historic squad that won three consecutive NBA titles from 1991 to 1993, providing the size and strength necessary to survive the physical Eastern Conference. However, the business of basketball eventually led him away from Chicago. In February 1994, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Luc Longley. This move began a journeyman period where he lent his talents to the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Dallas Mavericks before retiring from the NBA in 1997. Yet, the public persona of the champion and broadcaster was only one facet of the man. To his four sons, he was a pillar of support. His son, Brandon King, described him as a hero and a role model, calling him his 'Big Twin.' This private role as a mentor balanced the spicy public figure who delighted millions. Jerry Reinsdorf, the Chicago Bulls Chairman, called him a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in the organization's history. Stacey King leaves behind a legacy that transcends the box score. He will be remembered as the bridge between the championship glory of the nineties and the modern era of Bulls basketball. His voice was the soundtrack to countless nights in Chicago, a blend of expert analysis and infectious joy that reminded everyone why they loved the game in the first place. He is survived by his four sons, including Brandon King.
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Gonna miss hearing ya call games bud. Thinking of you today during the draft. You would love Caleb and have so much fun calling his games. RIP King!
Stacey King had an infectious smile, enthusiasm, and authenticity with a hint of mischief. No matter how busy he was, whether it was as a player, coach, broadcaster, or business owner, Stacey made time to reach out to his friends. I was fortunate to be his friend and here are a few of many cherished memories I have of him: The taxi backseat sandwich move One evening in Kansas City during the 1988 NCAA Men’s Final Four, Stacey got several of us together to go eat dinner at a local restaurant. We called for a taxi. When it arrived, one of the players quickly jumped in the front seat next to the driver while another one went around the rear of the taxi, opened the back door and sat down. Stacey politely let me go before him into the backseat. He then plopped down next to me and shut the door. I was sandwiched between two ginormous guys, hoping for a short ride. When we finally arrived at the restaurant, Stacey shouted, “Later, then.” He and the other players quickly bolted from the cab leaving me sitting alone in the backseat to pay the fare. As I frantically searched my wallet for the money, Stacey and the other players watched the scene from inside the restaurant, busting their guts with laughter. Life Lesson: Stay lighthearted if you are the subject of a joke. Will Call ticket for a dog Before a scheduled trip to Phoenix for a matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns, Stacey called me and invited me and my wife out for dinner on the evening of his arrival into Phoenix. After the dinner in Phoenix he offered us two tickets to the Bulls-Suns game the next evening. When my wife and I arrived at the Will Call window at the America West Arena to pick up the tickets to the game they called out our names and then a third name, Jake. Jake was our Yellow Labrador Retriever. Apparently, Stacey forgot that Jake was our four-legged son. His generosity had no bounds! Life Lesson: No matter how busy you are, take time to connect with or get together with your friends. The technical foul, the wire cage, and the chiropractor Before a scrimmage, Coach Billy Tubbs instructed me and Mike Morris, who had the unenviable job of officiating practices and scrimmages, to let the players play through some fouls to make them tougher. We were also encouraged to give anyone a technical foul who complained excessively. The recipient of a technical foul would also have to run sprints at the end of practice. During the scrimmage on a particular play under the basket, Stacey thought he was fouled, but there was no call. He stared me down and yelled, “Damn, John, call a foul! Do you have a pea in your whistle?” I immediately blew my whistle and gave him a technical foul. I replied, “Yes, it looks like I do have a pea in my whistle.” Stacey was fuming! After he ran sprints at the end of practice his fume became combustible. He sprinted to the locker room to hunt me down. Now with no protection or intervention available from the coaches, I sought refuge behind the caged door–the only safe place in the locker room. Stacey spotted me standing behind the wire mesh of the cage. He grabbed the cage and while staring at me intensely, spouted, “Why didn’t you call the foul? You knew I got fouled. And then you gave me a technical. You are going to get someone hurt out there.” “You need to get tougher, Stacey, and by the way, I didn’t give you a technical, you earned it,” I answered. With that remark, he said, “You better not come out from behind that cage because if you do, I will catch you and mess you up.” At one point, I let my guard down and left the safety of the caged door. Stacey was ready to pounce and pounce he did. He grabbed me and put me through every WWF move imaginable. I spent the following three days at my chiropractor’s office getting spinal and body adjustments and realignments. Life Lesson: When someone is angry, don’t fight fire with fire! Thanks for the pleasant memories and life lessons, Stacey! Rest in Peace my friend.
Gonna miss hearing ya call games bud. Thinking of you today during the draft. You would love Caleb and have so much fun calling his games. RIP King!
Stacey King had an infectious smile, enthusiasm, and authenticity with a hint of mischief. No matter how busy he was, whether it was as a player, coach, broadcaster, or business owner, Stacey made time to reach out to his friends. I was fortunate to be his friend and here are a few of many cherished memories I have of him: The taxi backseat sandwich move One evening in Kansas City during the 1988 NCAA Men’s Final Four, Stacey got several of us together to go eat dinner at a local restaurant. We called for a taxi. When it arrived, one of the players quickly jumped in the front seat next to the driver while another one went around the rear of the taxi, opened the back door and sat down. Stacey politely let me go before him into the backseat. He then plopped down next to me and shut the door. I was sandwiched between two ginormous guys, hoping for a short ride. When we finally arrived at the restaurant, Stacey shouted, “Later, then.” He and the other players quickly bolted from the cab leaving me sitting alone in the backseat to pay the fare. As I frantically searched my wallet for the money, Stacey and the other players watched the scene from inside the restaurant, busting their guts with laughter. Life Lesson: Stay lighthearted if you are the subject of a joke. Will Call ticket for a dog Before a scheduled trip to Phoenix for a matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns, Stacey called me and invited me and my wife out for dinner on the evening of his arrival into Phoenix. After the dinner in Phoenix he offered us two tickets to the Bulls-Suns game the next evening. When my wife and I arrived at the Will Call window at the America West Arena to pick up the tickets to the game they called out our names and then a third name, Jake. Jake was our Yellow Labrador Retriever. Apparently, Stacey forgot that Jake was our four-legged son. His generosity had no bounds! Life Lesson: No matter how busy you are, take time to connect with or get together with your friends. The technical foul, the wire cage, and the chiropractor Before a scrimmage, Coach Billy Tubbs instructed me and Mike Morris, who had the unenviable job of officiating practices and scrimmages, to let the players play through some fouls to make them tougher. We were also encouraged to give anyone a technical foul who complained excessively. The recipient of a technical foul would also have to run sprints at the end of practice. During the scrimmage on a particular play under the basket, Stacey thought he was fouled, but there was no call. He stared me down and yelled, “Damn, John, call a foul! Do you have a pea in your whistle?” I immediately blew my whistle and gave him a technical foul. I replied, “Yes, it looks like I do have a pea in my whistle.” Stacey was fuming! After he ran sprints at the end of practice his fume became combustible. He sprinted to the locker room to hunt me down. Now with no protection or intervention available from the coaches, I sought refuge behind the caged door–the only safe place in the locker room. Stacey spotted me standing behind the wire mesh of the cage. He grabbed the cage and while staring at me intensely, spouted, “Why didn’t you call the foul? You knew I got fouled. And then you gave me a technical. You are going to get someone hurt out there.” “You need to get tougher, Stacey, and by the way, I didn’t give you a technical, you earned it,” I answered. With that remark, he said, “You better not come out from behind that cage because if you do, I will catch you and mess you up.” At one point, I let my guard down and left the safety of the caged door. Stacey was ready to pounce and pounce he did. He grabbed me and put me through every WWF move imaginable. I spent the following three days at my chiropractor’s office getting spinal and body adjustments and realignments. Life Lesson: When someone is angry, don’t fight fire with fire! Thanks for the pleasant memories and life lessons, Stacey! Rest in Peace my friend.
