Michael Jordan 'Deeply Saddened' by Stacey King's Death, Won 3 NBA Titles Together on Bulls

Michael Jordan, who won three championships alongside Stacey King on the Chicago Bulls, released a statement following the death of his former teammate.

"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."

The Bulls announced Sunday that King died at age 59. 

"Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization's history," Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said. "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.

"We will miss him deeply and remember the joy, energy, humor, candor and passion he brought to our organization, our broadcasts and our fans every day. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones."

Chicago selected King with the No. 6 overall pick of the 1989 NBA draft, and he played until he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 1993-94 campaign. He also played for the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks in his eight-season career.

But he is best known for his connection to the Bulls.

In addition to the championships he won as a player, he became one of the team's broadcasters starting in 2006. He was widely known for his enthusiasm and celebratory tone when calling games, especially when the Bulls earned an important win or made a highlight play.

As for his playing days, King was largely a role player who averaged 6.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game during his time with the Bulls. It didn't take the organization long to win with him on the roster, though, as the first threepeat of Jordan's career came in King's second, third and fourth seasons in the league.

Stars such as Jordan and Scottie Pippen were the driving forces behind those championships, and King had a sense of humor about the situation such as when he told reporters, "I'll always remember this as the night that Michael Jordan and I combined to score 70 points" when he scored one point and His Airness scored 69 in a game.