Michael Jordan’s Heartbreaking Tribute to Stacey King Reveals the Powerful Bond Behind Bulls’ First 3-Peat

Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls received heartbreaking news on Sunday about Stacey King. According to ESPN’s David Kaplan, King suffered a fatal fall in his home and tragically passed away at the age of 59. King was part of the Bulls as a player and a broadcaster who covered the team for nearly two decades (2008 to 2026).

The Bulls sent their heartfelt statement about King and his legacy on Sunday. Team owner and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf addressed the passing in a press release.

“Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history,” Reinsdorf stated. “His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades — first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans.

“Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history,” Reinsdorf stated. “His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades — first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans.

Michael Jordan, a former teammate of King in the 1990s, addressed the passing in a statement.

“I’m deeply saddened to learn of Stacey’s passing,” Jordan said. “We shared some special years together as teammates, and he was part of a group that helped define an era of Chicago Bulls basketball. My thoughts are with Stacey’s family, friends, and everyone whose lives he touched.”

“I’m deeply saddened to learn of Stacey’s passing,” Jordan said. “We shared some special years together as teammates, and he was part of a group that helped define an era of Chicago Bulls basketball. My thoughts are with Stacey’s family, friends, and everyone whose lives he touched.”

King and Jordan played together during the Bulls’ first 3-peat. The former NBA center spent most of his eight-year career in Chicago before bouncing around the league. He played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks.

In his last NBA season, former player Trent Tucker had the opportunity to play alongside Michael Jordan. It was during the Bulls’ first 3-peat, and Tucker witnessed what it was like to have Jordan as a leader.

“Being a teammate, he forced us to get to that level,” Tucker said in 2020. “He wasn’t asking us to be Michael Jordan. But he was asking us to bring the same type of intensity and energy and effort every single day to the jobs that we were supposed to do so that we could help the team win.”

“Being a teammate, he forced us to get to that level,” Tucker said in 2020. “He wasn’t asking us to be Michael Jordan. But he was asking us to bring the same type of intensity and energy and effort every single day to the jobs that we were supposed to do so that we could help the team win.”

Jordan demanded a lot from his teammates. However, it was for the best of the team and their individual careers. Those who joined MJ and the Bulls in the 1990s had a chance to experience success and be named champions.

Although the pressure might not have worked out well for everyone, it still bore fruit.