Former OU men's basketball player Stacey King has died at 59 years old, the Chicago Bulls, who he played five seasons with in the NBA, announced Sunday.
No cause of death was given, according to ESPN.
King averaged 18 points and seven rebounds throughout his time as a Sooner in 1985-89. The forward helped OU reach the national title game during the 1987-88 season. He was a first-team All-American in 1988-89 and the Big Eight player of the year after averaging a conference-leading 26 points and 2.3 blocks per game.
OU retired his No. 33 jersey in 2008. He is among six former OU men's basketball players to have had their jerseys raised in the rafters, with Buddy Hield's 2026 ceremony being the most recent.
Head coach Porter Moser released a statement following King's death.
"We are heartbroken over the passing of Stacey King, a true Oklahoma legend," Moser wrote. "Stacey was one of the most accomplished and likeable players in OU men's basketball history, and he meant so much to our program because of his passion for the sport and the university."
Athletic director Roger Denny posted a brief reaction on X.
"Too soon. Rest easy, Stacey," Denny said.
Former athletic director Joe Castiglione also posted on X regarding King's death.
"Stacey & I had countless conversations about his love of being from Lawton, Oklahoma & playing for his beloved Sooners," Castiglione said. "He followed everything and came back as often as he could. This legend will truly be missed."
King was the No. 6 overall pick to the Bulls in the 1989 draft. He played all 82 games as a rookie, averaging 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds off the bench. He won three NBA championships in 1991-93 as a Bull while playing alongside Michael Jordan.
King also played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics.
Following his playing career, he was the head coach for the Rockford Lightning of the Continental Basketball Association. He later became a broadcaster for the Bulls, spending the past 19 years commentating on games. The Emmy-winning broadcaster started as a studio analyst in 2006 for the pre- and post-game shows. He began filling in as a third broadcaster in late 2006 and permanently moved to the role in 2007.
"Stacey loved being a Bull," Chicago Bulls team president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf wrote in a statement. "You could feel it in everything he did -- the way he played, the way he called games, and the way he connected with our fans. He had a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal."
OU will honor him throughout the upcoming season, according to Moser. The Bulls plan to honor King throughout the 2026-27 season as well, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
