Stacey King, Bulls broadcaster and three-time champion, dies at 59

Stacey King, a three-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls who later became an Emmy-winning broadcaster for the team, has died at age 59, the team announced Sunday. "Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization's history," Bulls owner and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement.

He was the sixth overall pick in the 1989 draft out of Oklahoma and played all 82 games as a rookie, averaging 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds while coming off the bench. King played alongside Michael Jordan as the Bulls won three consecutive championships from 1991 to 1993.

Broadcasting career After his playing career, King spent more than two decades as a commentator on Bulls games. He was known for memorable calls and nicknames, including the phrase "Gimme the Hot Sauce" after big plays. "We enjoy what we do," King said last month on his podcast.

"It never seems like work for me. " "Stacey had a unique ability to connect generations of Bulls fans," McCarthy said. " King helped Oklahoma reach the national title game during the 1987-88 season. The following year he was a first-team All-America and the Big Eight player of the year after averaging a conference-best 26.0 points and 2.3 blocks per game.

Following his NBA career, King served as head coach of the Rockford Lightning of the Continental Basketball Association for the 2001-02 season.