As they tipped off their season on Wednesday night, the Chicago Bulls are missing longtime franchise legend Stacey King.
King passed away in June at the age of 59 after two decades as a broadcaster and winning three championships as a player with the franchise. He was beloved for his colorful analysis and enthusiasm as an announcer and accomplishments as a player, where his #33 was retired at Oklahoma in addition to his success with the Bulls.
It was always going to be an emotional beginning to the season and the tribute from the Bulls broadcast was powerful with play-by-play announcer Adam Amin voicing a video tribute to Stacey King on the Chicago Sports Network with highlights of their time together before their season opener in Toronto against the Raptors.
“I know exactly who he was, I know what his gift could do, and I know that we were all just a little happier, a little better off, for getting to hear the song…for as long as we did.”
@adamamin gives a touching tribute to his late partner, Stacey King
https://t.co/VPRP58XjOA
— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) October 21, 2026
Poetically, the Bulls held King’s seat vacant for the first quarter of the Raptors game with Amin calling the game solo. A crown and one of King’s playing cards was present on the vacant seat next to the announcer as he welcomed fans to the broadcast.
https://t.co/V7SeJoTTK8
— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) October 21, 2026
“We love you very much, Stacey. And we appreciate everything you did for us, everything you did with us. And for this opening quarter of this opening game of this season, we’ll leave this chair next to our broadcast position empty. And we’ll give it a little bit of an acknowledgement and a hat tip, and perhaps a little bit of a jarring realization that he’s not with us anymore. And that’s ok, and it will be ok eventually,” Amin said.
The Bulls plan to use a rotation of analysts throughout the season to fulfill analyst duties. After the vacant first quarter, Robbie Hummel served as the game analyst alongside Amin for the opening contest. Analysts may be present throughout the season, but this was a powerful reminder that nobody could truly fill Stacey King’s seat this year.
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