Chicago Bulls Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen paid tribute to Stacey King after the franchise icon and broadcaster died Sunday at 59.
Chicago Bulls fans woke up to a painful loss Sunday: Stacey King, the longtime voice of Bulls basketball and a key figure in the franchise’s early-1990s championship run, passed away at the age of 59.
As tributes moved across the sports world. Scottie Pippen—his former teammate and longtime friend—took to social media with a message that sounded like both grief and gratitude. Pippen wrote: “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.”.
King’s place in Bulls history is inseparable from what that team accomplished together. He joined Chicago as the No. 6 overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft, arriving as the organization was assembling the foundation for its championship core. While Michael Jordan and Pippen became the most visible faces of the franchise. King built credibility in a different way—starting as a rugged reserve big man who embraced sacrifice and kept winning at the center of his role.
The results came quickly. Pippen and King were part of the Bulls’ first championship dynasty, capturing three consecutive NBA titles from 1991 to 1993. That stretch cemented Chicago’s dominance and gave the city a run of basketball they would keep remembering long after the final buzzer.
One moment in particular still stands out: King’s impact during Game 6 of the 1992 NBA Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers. Playing alongside Pippen and a reserve-heavy unit, King helped ignite a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback from a 15-point deficit. It was the kind of swing that changes series—and. for the Bulls. it fed directly into the dynasty that followed.
After his playing days, King stayed close to the franchise in another important role. He became the voice of Bulls basketball for nearly two decades as a beloved broadcaster, turning games into something that sounded familiar and personal to fans.
Taken together. King’s timeline traces a rare arc: a top-10 draft pick who helped deliver championships. then years later a familiar presence on television and radio. still carrying the game’s energy into Chicago living rooms. Now. with his passing at 59 on Sunday. the Bulls—and the city around them—are once again trying to process what his absence will feel like.
Stacey King Scottie Pippen Chicago Bulls NBA death tribute 1992 NBA Finals Portland Trail Blazers 1989 NBA Draft
59 is way too young, man. Rip Stacey King
I thought Stacey King played for the Knicks?? Maybe I’m mixing him up with someone else but still so sad. Bulls fans really lost a legend.
Scottie Pippen posting about him is nice but I still don’t get how the Bulls can lose like this and it just keeps happening. Also wasn’t Stacey King the guy who did the commentary during the 2010s? Sounds like he was on TV forever.
Game 6 1992 comeback or whatever—honestly I barely remember the details, I just remember the vibes. But 15 point deficit?? That’s insane. Tragic that it ends at 59 though. Glad Pippen said something, but I wish they’d stop waiting until after people pass.