Most players dedicate their entire careers to achieving a legacy of three NBA titles in five seasons. Stacey King's accomplishment was just the start of a decades-long relationship with Chicago basketball that lasted far beyond his playing days.

The Bulls organisation has confirmed that Stacey King, a former Chicago Bulls forward and beloved broadcaster, passed away at the age of 59 following a fall at his home.

King arrived in Chicago as a first-round pick in 1989 and left in 1994 following the Bulls' third straight championship, spending the first five seasons of his NBA career there.

King played on a dynasty built around Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen with coach Phil Jackson. Chicago repeated as champions from 1991-93, one of the most dominant runs in NBA history. Having King on those rosters put him in the front row for greatness at the highest level.

In a statement posted to their official X account, the Bulls wrote, "We are devastated by the passing of 3x NBA Champion and beloved broadcaster Stacey King."

King transitioned into broadcasting after a ten-year playing career that included stints with the Timberwolves, Heat, Celtics, and Mavericks.

Before the mic, the court and King’s on-floor contributions paint a narrative worth revisiting.

Stacey King's Best NBA Performances Showed the Versatility

King’s best scoring night was as a rookie with Chicago. On March 21, 1990, he came off the bench to score 24 points against the Washington Bullets in a 122-97 home victory for the Bulls. The rookie was still trying to find his footing on a championship team, and that outing turned heads.

The best game King played in another uniform came four years later. In an 83-81 victory over the Houston Rockets on March 23, 1994, he delivered a masterclass while playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He finished with a career-high 32 performance efficiency rating.

The statistics that night were hard to overlook. King finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and a career-best 7 blocked shots, dominating the paint on both sides of the court against a very competitive front line, while filling up the box score.

King's game that night showed King’s entire game. King earned three championship rings during his time in Chicago, thanks to his versatility in shooting, grabbing rebounds, and blocking shots.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta