Longtime Bulls television analyst Stacey King died on June 7 at age 59, leaving a sudden vacancy for the color-commentator slot. The Bulls’ broadcast partner, Chicago Sports Network, will be on air for the team’s first regular-season game after the Summer League concludes, so a replacement must be in place before the preseason begins in October.
Front office leaders Michael Reinsdorf and Susan Goodenow have indicated they are open to a rotation rather than a single hire. The rotation concept mirrors the three-to-four-analyst experiment the Chicago Blackhawks tried, which fans found confusing. By spreading the workload among several voices, the Bulls hope to avoid the same criticism while still honoring King’s enthusiastic style and signature catchphrases.
Play-by-play partner Adam Amin is expected to miss part of the first half of the season while calling NFL games for Fox. Because Amin’s contract runs for two more years with Chicago, the Bulls must have a backup analyst ready to step in when his national duties pull him away. Scheduling conflicts of that sort have already prompted the organization to consider a pool of analysts rather than relying on a single substitute.
The candidate pool is being filtered through a set of “pluses” identified by the front office: former Bulls players, championship experience, and strong Chicago ties. One name that fits those criteria is Darius Gill, a Chicago native who spent a single season with the Bulls in 2003-04 after a 15-year NBA career and a standout run with the Illinois “Flyin’ Illini.” Gill has never served as a game-day analyst, but his studio work demonstrates the ability to break down plays and speak directly to fans, making him a plausible contender for a live-broadcast role.
Decision-makers plan to announce the first analyst or the rotation structure well before the October preseason opener, giving the broadcast crew time to rehearse. Whether the Bulls settle on a three-analyst rotation or a different configuration, the goal is to keep the television product smooth, preserve King’s legacy, and provide Chicago viewers with a fresh yet familiar voice on the court.
