The Chicago sports community is in mourning following the tragic and unexpected passing of Chicago Bulls color commentator Stacey King on Sunday, June 7, 2026. He was 59.
The Chicago Bulls officially announced the death of the three-time NBA champion turned legendary announcer on Sunday afternoon. David Kaplan of ESPN Chicago was the first to report that King passed away following a serious fall at his home Saturday evening.
For three decades, King was a pillar of the Bulls franchise – first as a gritty rotational big man during the height of the 1990s Michael Jordan dynasty, and later as the energetic, infectious, and deeply loved soundtrack to modern Bulls basketball.
He is survived by his wife, Debi, who he married in 2017, and their four sons: Eric, Garrett, Brandon, and Mason.
From college star to a dynasty
Long before he picked up a microphone, King was a powerhouse on the court. Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, King went on to become a consensus first-team All-American and the Sporting News National Player of the Year in 1989 while playing for the Oklahoma Sooners under Billy Tubbs.
His dominant college play led the Chicago Bulls to select the 6-foot-11 center with the number six overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft.
While King initially struggled with transitioning from a college superstar to a NBA bench role, he completely bought into the team’s philosophy for the sake of winning. He became a vital rotational frontcourt piece during the Bulls’ historic first “three-peat,” securing NBA championship rings in 1991, 1992, and 1993. King played 344 regular-season games with the franchise before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1994 for Luc Longley.
‘Gimme the hot sauce!’: Broadcasting legacy
Though his playing career earned him rings, it was King’s transition to the broadcast booth in 2006 that cemented him as an immortal Chicago icon.
Over a nearly 20-year career behind the microphone, King transformed local telecasts with his explosive enthusiasm, candid humor, and a vocabulary of unforgettable catchphrases. He possessed a rare ability to elevate even the most mundane regular-season games into must-watch television. Some of his most famous signature calls and nicknames include:
- “Gimme the hot sauce!” / “Sriracha!” — His ultimate exclamation after a massive, clutch three-pointer.
- “Too big, too strong, too fast, too good!” — The definitive anthem he chanted during Derrick Rose’s MVP era.
- “The Windy City Assassin” — His legendary nickname for Derrick Rose.
- “Let me take you upstairs!” — Said whenever a player launched for a posterizing dunk.
His partnership with play-by-play announcer Adam Amin consistently ranked among the absolute best local broadcast duos in the entire NBA, praised nationwide for balancing technical basketball intelligence with pure, unadulterated fan joy.
A city and franchise mourn
The sudden loss has triggered an outpouring of grief from former teammates, media colleagues, and generations of fans who grew up listening to his voice.
In an official statement released by the team, Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf expressed the organization’s sorrow:
“Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history. 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.”
Bulls President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf echoed those sentiments, emphasizing King’s profound personal warmth:
“Stacey loved being a Bull. You could feel it in everything he did… He had a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal. Whether it was through a broadcast, a conversation or a photo with a fan, Stacey made people feel seen and valued.”
King remained an ardent lover of the game until his very final moments, actively interacting with fans on social media about the ongoing NBA Finals just hours before his tragic accident. He leaves behind an indelible legacy as a champion on the court and the ultimate voice of Chicago basketball.