NBA great Michael Jordan is remembering his former Chicago Bulls teammate, Stacey King, the day after news broke of King’s surprising death at age 59.
“I’m deeply saddened to learn of Stacey’s passing,” Jordan, 63, said in a statement shared with ESPN Chicago. “We shared some special years together as teammates, and he was part of a group that helped define an era of Chicago Bulls basketball. My thoughts are with Stacey’s family, friends and everyone whose lives he touched.”
An official cause of death has not been released for King. ESPN Radio’s David Kaplan reported on Sunday, June 7, that he died following a fall at his home.
King and Jordan were teammates on the Bulls from 1989 to 1994, winning three NBA championships together. While Jordan went on to win three more rings in Chicago, King’s career took him to the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics before he retired in 1999. King had been working as a Bulls color commentator for Chicago Sports Network.
One of King’s more memorable moments as a player came in 1990 after Jordan scored a career-high 69 points. King, who had 1 point that night, joked to reporters, “I’ll always remember this as the night that Michael Jordan and I combined to score 70 points.”
“Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history,” Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “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.”
Jerry’s son, team president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf, remembered King as someone who “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,” he said in a statement of his own. “He had a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal. He brought an energy and love for the game that came through in every broadcast, helping fans feel connected to our team.”
Michael continued, “Whether it was through a broadcast, a conversation or a photo with a fan, Stacey made people feel seen and valued. We were fortunate to know him not only as a player and broadcaster, but as a friend. Stacey genuinely cared about people, and he made our organization better. We will miss him dearly, and his impact, memory and legacy will remain a part of the Chicago Bulls forever.”
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