Chicago Bulls great Stacey King died after falling at his home, according to ESPN 1000 host David Kaplan. King, 59, passed away Sunday, though an official cause of death has not yet been released.
Kaplan expressed his devastation on social media, writing: 'Absolutely devastated to hear that Stacey King has passed away at the age of 59 after a fall at his home. He made watching the Bulls, no matter good season or bad, so much fun. God bless you, my friend. RIP.'
The medical examiner's office reported that King was found dead at his River Forest home early Sunday. A head autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death, as confirmed by ABC7 Chicago.
Bulls Legend
King was a three-time NBA champion during the Bulls' Michael Jordan era in the 1990s. After retiring from basketball, he became a fan favorite as a broadcaster. Coming out of Oklahoma, King was the sixth overall pick in the 1989 draft. As a rookie, he played all 82 games, averaging 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds, and helped the Bulls win three consecutive championships from 1991 to 1993.
NBA and Chicago Mourn
Bulls owner and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf released 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… We will miss him deeply and remember the joy, energy, humour, candour and passion that he brought to our organization, our broadcasts, and our fans every day.'
The NBA also issued a statement: 'The NBA family mourns the passing of Stacey King, a three-time NBA champion and longtime Chicago Bulls television analyst. Stacey made his mark on the game as a player, coach and commentator. For more than 20 years on Bulls broadcasts, his passion, knowledge and unmistakable energy resonated with generations of fans. We extend our deepest condolences to Stacey’s family and friends and the Bulls organization.'
The Chicago Cubs paid tribute to King on Sunday night with a moment of silence before their game.
