The Chicago Bulls opened their preseason at the United Center with a tribute to one of the most beloved figures in franchise history.
Before Wednesday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns, the Bulls held a moment of silence in memory of Stacey King, who died in June at the age of 59. The tribute gave players, staff and fans an opportunity to recognize a man whose connection to the organization spanned both the championship years on the court and two decades behind the microphone.
A moment of silence for Stacey King ❤️ https://t.co/yhfNagsEB8
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) October 8, 2026
King played for Chicago from 1989 to 1994 and was part of the Bulls teams that won three consecutive NBA championships from 1991 through 1993. While he was a useful rotation big man during the opening years of the dynasty, his second career with the franchise ultimately made him just as familiar to a younger generation of Bulls fans.
After his playing days, King became a longtime television analyst for the team and developed into one of the NBA’s most recognizable local broadcasters. His humor, energy and memorable calls became closely associated with Bulls basketball, helping turn him into a fixture of the franchise well beyond his championship résumé.
The organization is expected to continue honoring King throughout the season, including with commemorative jersey patches bearing his name.
But the first tribute was fittingly simple. Before Chicago played its first preseason game at home, the arena went quiet for a man whose voice had filled Bulls broadcasts for years.
