The cause of death of Stacey King, the late Chicago Bulls star who died in June, has been revealed.
A Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office spokesperson confirmed on Friday, Aug. 7 to USA TODAY Sports that King died June 7 of hypertensive cardiovascular disease, which is a complication of long-term high blood pressure. Obesity was also cited as a contributing factor.
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King died in his home in River Forest, Illinois. He was 59.
After his death, tributes poured in from all corners of the basketball world.
In the Chicago neighborhood of Logan Square, which is northwest of downtown, a mural was painted to honor him.
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2026: AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2026: AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2025: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2024: Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2023: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2022: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2021: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2020: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2019: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2018: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2017: Markelle Fultz, Philadelphia 76ers
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2016: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2015: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2014: Andrew Wiggins, Cleveland Cavaliers (traded two months later to Minnesota Timberwolves)
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2011: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2010: John Wall, Washington Wizards
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2007: Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2002: Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
2000: Kenyon Martin, New Jersey Nets
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
1998: Michael Olowokandi, Los Angeles Clippers
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
1997: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
1996: Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
1995: Joe Smith, Golden State Warriors
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
1994: Glenn Robinson, Milwaukee Bucks
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
1993: Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
1992: Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando Magic
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
1991: Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to AJ Dybantsa
1990: Derrick Coleman, New Jersey Nets
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The mural depicts a close-up of King’s face against a black background. To his right, a silhouette of the Bulls logo wears a crown, in homage to King’s last name.
One of King’s broadcast catchphrases – “Too big, too strong, too fast, too good” – is captioned to the left of the mural.
King played eight seasons in the NBA from 1989-97, five of which came with the Bulls. The sixth pick out of Oklahoma in the 1989 draft, King was a 6-foot-11 big man who won three NBA championships alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in his first five seasons in Chicago.
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He later played stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics.
The Chicago Sky honor Chicago Bulls legend Stacey King who passed away before the game against the Atlanta Dream at Wintrust Arena on June 9, 2026, in Chicago.
King averaged 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists across his 438 career games.
After his playing career ended, he joined the team’s broadcast crew in 2006 and became its color commentator. He was the voice that a generation of Bulls fans grew up hearing, even the reason some tuned in at all during a lot of lean years.
“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 June 7 in a statement. “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.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stacey King’s cause of death revealed as tributes to Bulls icon continue
