On Wednesday night, the New York Knicks, who are the defending NBA champions, defeated the Chicago Bulls 133-127, but the primary narrative was not the score. It wasn’t even Jalen Brunson’s 38 points. After the final buzzer, Brunson stopped to honor a man who wasn’t even in the building. Stacey King, the beloved Bulls broadcaster, passed away in June at age 59, and his absence was felt deeply at the United Center.
Brunson didn’t just nod his head or offer a quick wave. He asked the broadcast crew for the mic to say a few words that hit hard for every fan in the arena. “Real quick, just because we’re here, I just want to say RIP to Stacey King, who we lost recently,” Brunson said. He didn’t stop there. He explained why this loss mattered so much to him personally, noting that King was a person he knew back in high school.
A High School Connection That Runs Deep
Many fans know Brunson as the Knicks star, but he cut his teeth right here in Illinois. He played for Adelai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, graduating in 2015. King’s own kids went to that same school. He was a huge supporter of the basketball program there, which won the Class 4A state title the same year Brunson graduated. The shared history was evident to the local crowd.
Brunson pointed out how much King supported his team back then. Brunson admitted, “Just to see him not here today is a little sad.” He then sent his thoughts and prayers to King’s family, adding a simple line that summed up the feeling: “We miss him.”
The Bulls Try to Fill a Big Seat
King wasn’t just a high school coach’s friend; he was a legend in the NBA. During the 90s, he secured three championships with the Bulls in partnership with Michael Jordan. For nearly 20 years after his playing days, he served as the team’s color commentator. His voice, full of nicknames and energy, became a staple for Chicago fans. Per Awful Announcing, King and his partner Adam Amin were regularly ranked among the best broadcast teams in the league.
The Bulls organization is struggling to fill the void left by King’s sudden death. Adam Amin paid tribute to him during the season opener, saying, “We love you very much, Stacey. And we appreciate everything you did for us, everything you did with us.” The team is now using a rotating cast of analysts to sit next to Amin.
While the Bulls are trying to move forward on the court, they lost 133-127 in this matchup. Norman Powell scored 30 points for Chicago, and Matas Buzelis scored 17 points. to pass 2,000 for his career. The Knicks improved to 2-3 with the win, while the Bulls dropped to 1-4.
Brunson will play the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. The Bulls face the Boston Celtics on the same day.
