Brother. Friend. Comrade. Horace Grant used these words as he struggled to process the death of his former Chicago Bulls teammate, Stacey King. The basketball world continues to mourn the passing of King at 59, but for Grant, the loss was far more personal. While the members of the first three-peat era took to social media and other avenues to pay their respects, the four-time champ broke down as he tried to get through his statement.

“For me personally, a brother, a friend, this is tough, man… a brother, a friend that makes you laugh, a comrade who would give you the shirt off his back,” Grant said on the Chicago Sports Network. “He was that friend. You can call in the middle of the night and talk to him about things. He was that guy, man. Chicago is truly going to miss him, as we are.”

“This is one of the toughest moments of my being here on earth, man, to have someone like that close to you pass on,” Grant, who paused several times to gather himself, said. “It’s pretty tough. Real tough. And I don’t usually cry. Everyone can tell you about this moment, man. It’s one of the worst.”

Grant said this on a two-hour special, ‘Remembering Stacey King,’ that CHSN aired, featuring friends and former teammates paying tribute to him.

Horace Grant’s emotional reaction stems from his relationship with Stacey King. It extended well beyond their playing days. The Bulls picked Grant in 1987. He went on to become a crucial part of their starting lineup. King joined him two years later and took care of business off the bench. 

Their friendship carried on even after King left the franchise. In a 2025 Hoopshype interview, Grant named King as the closest to him, only next to Scottie Pippen, in the Bulls locker room. Grant also credited his humor and his ability to take the edge off, even during a tense playoff battle against the Knicks and Pistons.

Following their playing years, the duo returned to where it all began. King had a brief stint as a coach and returned to the Bulls fold as an announcer in 2004. He immediately became a household name thanks to his captivating, humorous approach. Meanwhile, Grant, who spent years representing the NBA to the world, returned to the Bulls fold in 2016 as Special Advisor to the President and COO. The two of them were closely tied to the franchise and helped build it.

Tribute messages continue to pour in for Stacey King

Horace Grant wasn’t the only one who was deeply moved by the loss. 

Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf described King as “a cherished member of the Bulls family,” highlighting his three-decade-long service. He praised King’s ability to bring joy, energy, humor, and passion to the Bulls fans, both as a player and as an “unmistakable voice” of the broadcast.

The franchise’s greatest player, Michael Jordan, also issued a statement.

“We shared some special years together as teammates, and he was part of a group that helped define an era of Chicago Bulls basketball,” Jordan shared. “My thoughts are with Stacey’s family, friends, and everyone whose lives he touched.”

Scottie Pippen took to his social media handle and called King a champion, a great teammate, and a true ambassador of the game. For this generation, King’s voice has become more recognizable than his playing years. He was known for his energetic commentary, creative nicknames, and memorable catchphrases. 

To name a few:

“Give me the hot sauce.”

“Big time players make big time plays.”

“Did you not get the memo?”

Franchise legend Derrick Rose had recently shared an emotional, poetic tribute to King on Instagram. Here’s how it went.

“Stacey King, your voice became a part of mine, calling moments out that now live beyond time.

When the lights got dim and the crowd moved on, your belief stayed strong and carried on.

You didn’t just call plays, you helped tell my story, from the pain of the struggle to the height of the glory.

So if my name still echoes, if my Rose still grows

A piece of that garden is yours… I hope you know.”

The demise of King has left Chicago shocked. The Bulls didn’t just lose a champion but also their cherished voice.