Stacey King, the Bulls’ TV analyst known for catchphrases and sharp game analysis, died Sunday at 59. Over nearly 21 years on broadcasts, he evolved from a rookie tryout into a fixture for “Bulls Nation,” later extending his reach through the podcast “Gimme Th
When the buzzer finally fell silent, it wasn’t just a job that ended for Bulls fans—it was a voice. Stacey King, the Chicago Bulls’ TV analyst famed for turning big moments into fast, memorable lines, died Sunday at 59.
In nearly 21 years on Bulls broadcasts, King seemed built for television timing. The catchphrases came in bursts—“I wanna go higher!” and “Too big. too strong. too fast. too good!”—along with the rapid-fire “Bang. bang. bang.” Even the humor felt like it had the volume turned up. the kind of energy that could soften the hardest expression.
It’s also why it’s so easy to forget what else he carried with him on-air: King was the Bulls’ first-round draft pick in 1989 (No. 6 overall) and played on their first three-peat teams. On the court, he was a reserve big man, but he still had moments that stuck with people. After his playing career, the moments multiplied—just not on the floor.
King’s broadcasting life extended into podcasting through his show. “Gimme The Hotsauce. ” which was in its sixth year and co-hosted by longtime Chicago sportscaster Mark Schanowski. Schanowski said their connection went beyond work, and that the loss is still hard to process. “I’ve known Stacey for a long time and became really close doing the podcast,” Schanowski said. “Just a tragedy. We’re all trying to process it.”.
His talent for keeping people engaged didn’t start with microphones, Schanowski suggested. King had a big personality from childhood through his college days at Oklahoma, enjoying being the center of attention. After giving coaching a try with the Rockford Lightning in the old Continental Basketball Association. King joined Comcast SportsNet Chicago as a studio analyst alongside Schanowski.
The analysts’ chair came through a practical need. Tom Dore and Johnny “Red” Kerr were calling games at the time, and the Bulls knew Kerr soon wouldn’t be able to handle a full schedule. So they gave King a tryout as an analyst.
“Immediately, he brought a new energy into the broadcast,” Schanowski said. “Stacey had to be deferential to ‘Red’ at first. but the people that were calling the shots at Comcast SportsNet realized that this guy could be really good. We need to give him his own platform. And the following year, they had him as the analyst.”.
That energy became part of the product. On-air, King could cut through a game’s complexity with a quick line and an explanation behind it. Fans heard him ask. “Does anybody know how to post videos to Facebook?!” He joked. “It’s a simple game.” And he delivered playful crowd-callouts like “Compton’s in the house!” and “Ayo. dos. tres!”.
Schanowski said the appeal wasn’t only the catchphrases. “He is so quick with a phrase,” Schanowski said. “His ability to see something and immediately translate it into a way that’s not only informative but is really entertaining is what I think caught on with Bulls fans. It’s much more than the catchphrases.”.
Even when he turned critical, the tone stayed measured. Schanowski described King as willing to challenge the Bulls when it mattered. while still maintaining a boundary that reflected his professional relationship with the team. “He would be very measured in how he would do it, but the point came through,” Schanowski said. “It would never get to the point where he would be overly critical because he always respected the relationship that he had as a Bulls employee.”.
After games, that respect carried into the stands and hallways. King stayed after broadcasts and told security guards to let anyone who wanted an autograph or a picture down to the floor. He said he was “a man of the people,” and Schanowski’s comments suggested that King meant it.
The sweep of his career connected a rare set of roles—first-round draft pick. broadcast presence. and a podcast personality—each one fed by the same instinct: translate what’s happening into something people feel. That’s the through-line viewers watched for years as he went from a tryout to a permanent seat. turning each broadcast into more than a recap.
Now Schanowski says the seat itself will be difficult to fill. “It’s just a huge loss for me personally. all his colleagues with the Bulls’ broadcast network. all of Bulls Nation. ” Schanowski said. “Whoever sits in that seat is gonna have huge. huge shoes to fill because there will never be another Stacey King.”.
For a final time, King’s playful sign-off lingered with the memory of how he always left an imprint: “Drive home safely, Chicago. Beep, beep!”
Stacey King Chicago Bulls Bulls broadcasts Comcast SportsNet Chicago Mark Schanowski Gimme The Hotsauce Oklahoma Rockford Lightning Continental Basketball Association Johnny Red Kerr
Damn, I swear I used to hear him yelling “bang bang bang” every other commercial break.
So wait, the Bulls’ broadcasts ended because he died? That seems messed up, like they couldn’t just keep the same setup??
I didn’t realize he was even a draft pick. I thought he was like… just a commentator the whole time. Also 59 isn’t that old, feels too soon.
RIP Stacey King. I always liked the catchphrases but I guess I never paid attention to the fact he played too. The headline says Bulls broadcasts end after 21 years but wouldn’t that be more about him retiring or switching channels? TMZ/Twitter said it differently so idk. Either way, Bulls fans are gonna miss the voice, that much is for sure.