Stacey King spent nearly 20 years making bad basketball worth watching. Now, he’s gone. King died Sunday, June 9 at 59 years old and Chicago is in mourning.
King was the sixth pick out of Oklahoma in the 1989 draft, a 6-foot-11 big man who won three NBA titles alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in his first five seasons with the Bulls.
He never truly stopped being a Bull.
After his playing career ended, he joined the team’s broadcast crew in 2006 and became its color commentator. He’s the voice that a generation of Bulls fans grew up hearing, even the reason some tuned in at all during a lot of lean years. He won an Emmy, but perhaps the better legacy is that fans knew his catchphrases like, “Let me step back and kiss myself,” by heart.
King was pronounced dead Sunday morning in River Forest, where he lived. No cause of death was given.
Here is what we know.
The Bulls confirmed his death Sunday
The announcement came from the team’s X account Sunday afternoon: “We are devastated by the passing of 3x NBA Champion and beloved broadcaster Stacey King.”
Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement: “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.”
The Bulls said details on a service honoring King would be announced at a later date.
Stacey King is honored at halftime of OU’s 63-61 win against Texas Tech at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman on Jan. 19, 2008.
Authorities say he fell at his home
Authorities said King suffered a fall at his residence, though officials are continuing to review the exact cause of death. An autopsy was conducted as part of the process, ESPN 1000 host David Kaplan reported.
Autopsy is pending
The medical examiner’s office said a head autopsy is needed to determine the cause of death. No timeline for results has been released.
Stacey King’s legacy as a player
The sixth pick in the 1989 draft, King was on the Jordan teams and was never a star. Still, King was quick for a big man, useful and willing to do the grunt work — the kind of guy that helps win championships.
In Game 6 of the 1992 Finals against Portland, with the Bulls down 15 in the fourth quarter, Phil Jackson went to a reserve lineup that included King. He hit a big jumper to pull Chicago within three points during the comeback.
He finished his career averaging 6.4 points and 3.3 rebounds over eight seasons, with additional stops in Minnesota, Miami, Boston and Dallas.
King’s legacy after his playing career
King joined the Bulls’ broadcast team in 2006, starting on pregame and postgame shows before becoming the color commentator. For a lot of younger Bulls fans, he was the guy in the booth making them laugh and cheer for a team that had given them very little to be optimistic about for a long time.
His former teammates responded
“We shared some special years together as teammates, and he was part of a group that helped define an era of Chicago Bulls basketball,” Michael Jordan said in a statement. “My thoughts are with Stacey’s family, friends, and everyone whose life he touched.”
Scottie Pippen wrote on Instagram: “Sad to hear about the passing of Stacey King. A champion, a great teammate and a true ambassador for the game. His impact on the Bulls organization and the city of Chicago will be remembered for generations. Rest in peace King.”
Bulls’ president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf said: “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.”
The NBA issued a statement mourning a “three-time NBA champions and longtime Chicago Bulls television analyst,” who “made his mark on the game as a player, coach and commentator.”
Chicago paid tribute
Outside the United Center, fans left flowers alongside printouts of his most memorable lines. The Cubs held a moment of silence before their game Sunday night and a tribute ran on the Wrigley Field scoreboard.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stacey King death: What we know about the Bulls’ broadcaster
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