King's shocking death sent ripples through Chicago.
The 2026-27 NBA season will be an emotional one for Bulls fans, as it'll be the first time in two decades that legendary announcer Stacey King won't be on the broadcast.
King passed away in June at the age of 59, stunning the city he called home. He had broadcast Bulls games since the 2006-07 season and became the voice that defined a generation of Chicago basketball. Players, coaches and play-by-play announcers changed, but King's iconic catchphrases and enthusiasm remained a constant throughout.
For the fans in Chicago and members of the Bulls community, King is irreplaceable. Chicago Sports Network will attempt to navigate its first season without King by using a rotating cast of color commentators, according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Jeff Agrest.
That rotation is reported to feature four announcers: Robbie Hummel, Kendall Gill, Will Perdue and Scott Williams. Adam Amin remains the network's play-by-play commentator for his seventh year on the Bulls' broadcast team.
Mar 22, 2024; Spokane, WA, USA; Analyst Steve Smith, Analyst Robbie Hummel, and play by play announcer Lisa Byington call a game between the UAB Blazers and the San Diego State Aztecs in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Hummel is the biggest name of the bunch and was previously reported as a top candidate to succeed King. The 37-year-old former Purdue star is one of the top college basketball commentators in the country and currently works for the Big Ten Network, NBC, CBS and Turner networks. He has filled in for King on past Bulls games.
Gill was the No. 5 overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft and had a 16-year career between the Hornets, SuperSonics, Nets, Heat, Timberwolves, Bulls and Bucks. The Olympia Fields, Ill., native and Fighting Illini alum returned to the Chicago area in 2003 and played his penultimate season for the Bulls. Gill averaged 9.6 points and started 35 of the 56 games he played.
Since his retirement from the NBA, Gill has been a studio analyst for Bulls games and currently provides pre-game and post-game analysis for Chicago Sports Network.
Apr 12, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Former Chicago Bulls player Kendall Gill throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Angels at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports Perdue was the Bulls' first-round pick in 1988, preceding King by one year. The 7-footer was a backup center on Chicago's first three championship teams and later won another ring with the San Antonio Spurs. Perdue, who had a 13-year NBA career, was a studio analyst for NBC Sports Chicago.
Williams went undrafted in 1990 and was subsequently signed by the Bulls as a free agent. Similar to King and Perdue, he was a reserve big man on Chicago's championship teams in 1991, 1992 and 1993. Williams is currently a college analyst for ESPN.
The Bulls will open their 2026-27 season on the road against the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 21.
