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K.C. Johnson: Bryson Graham opens Tiago Splitter press conference by offering condolences to family of Stacey King: "We're here for you. You're part of the Bulls family forever."
Six weeks before he died, Brandon Clarke sat in the back seat of a deputy’s patrol car, handcuffs digging into his left wrist as he shifted his 6-foot-8 frame in the cramped space. Outside, three officers searched his white Corvette along the shoulder of Highway 64 in eastern Arkansas. Across the two-lane road sat a steakhouse serving ribeye and deep-fried alligator, its empty parking lot waiting for the dinner regulars. Moments earlier, deputies had pulled over the Memphis Grizzlies forward with guns drawn, accusing him of attempting to flee at speeds topping 100 mph. But now, officers were more interested in the blue duffle bag on Clarke’s passenger seat. Reaching inside, they found seven smaller bags containing capsules of green powder and a few chewable tablets. They stacked them on the Corvette’s roof as Clarke watched from the cruiser’s backseat. “Sir, it’s all legal,” Clarke’s deep voice called out with calm certainty in an exchange captured by the cruiser’s dashcam and obtained by The Athletic.
The bags were labeled “100% Pure Mitragyna Speciosa,” with handwritten names such as “The Juice,” “Euflooria” and “Gold Rhino.” Online, the various strains totaled $223 and promised a “solid amount of relief,” “a speed boost” and “a mind and body melting burst of happiness in a plant.” Waiving his Miranda rights, Clarke quickly identified what had caught officers’ attention. “It’s just kratom,” he said. In the same botanical family as coffee, kratom has been used for centuries in Southeast Asia. In recent decades, it has developed a fervent following in the United States among people who say the kratom leaf – or its synthetic derivative 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH – helps manage chronic pain, kick opioid addictions and boost stamina.
Stacey King blew up the formula. He rewired the brains of an entire city. And he did it purely by being himself. An irresistible, infectious and undeniable force of energy, passion and basketball poetry. He was my broadcast partner for eight years and felt like a friend for much, much longer. He passed away Sunday at 59, a number frustratingly insuffucient for how big his life seemed and wholly inaccurate compared to his vitality.
One night later, Stacey ripped his suit pants from the thigh to the ankle while boarding the bus to the arena. He gently chided our producer for wanting to use gaffer tape to fix a very expensive outfit. But he kept his infectious smile as our producer stapled his pants shut. When we sat down at our broadcast position, he pointed across the floor at a then-19-year-old Victor Wembanyama and said, “Just watch. That dude is about to change the league.” Then, in the very next moment, as if it were the most natural occurrence, he introduced me to Magic Johnson. He and I shook hands, and Stacey adjusted his fixed pants and smiled, as if to say “Congrats, you both just met a cool person.”
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Vladas Garastas, one of the most important figures in Lithuanian basketball history, has died at the age of 94. The Lithuanian Basketball Federation announced his passing on Wednesday, June 10. Garastas was born in 1932 in Linkuva and spent most of his childhood and youth in Birzai, where his sporting path began long before his coaching career took off. He finished Birzai Gymnasium in 1952 and later enrolled at the Lithuanian Institute of Physical Education.
NBA legend Michael Jordan was hit hard by the death of former teammate Stacey King, who died at 59 after a serious fall at his home on Saturday. “I’m deeply saddened to learn of Stacey’s passing. 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 said in a statement. “My thoughts are with Stacey’s family, friends, and everyone whose lives he touched.”
Bulls great Stacey King died after a fall at his home, ESPN Chicago’s David Kaplan said. King, 59, died Sunday, though an official cause of death has not been disclosed. “Absolutely devastated to hear that Stacey King has passed away at the age of 59 after a fall at his home,” Kaplan wrote on X. “He made watching the Bulls, no matter good season or bad so much fun. God bless you, my friend. RIP.”
Madopal: My Stacey King story: I used to work at Record City in Northbrook. It was near enough the Berto Center that many Bulls would come in after practice. (Michael Jordan once shook his head disapprovingly at me wearing granny glasses). Stacey was more of a regular, so we saw him a lot. So, one time, Stacey was in and browsing thru the hip hop section. A coworker who used to greet & chat with him saw him looking at an album. From that point, we all greeted him as "Pooh-Man," and he took it with pride & grinned when he came in. Flash forward several years later, and I'm looking for parking at Northbrook Court. I see a rather tall man walking towards the mall, and I realize it's Stacey. As I drive past, I roll down the window and shout "Pooh-Man!" He doubles over with laughter. He will be missed.
Scottie Pippen: Sad to hear about the passing of Stacey King. A champion, a great teammate, and a true ambassador for the game. His impact on the Bulls organization and the city of Chicago will be remembered for generations. Rest in peace, King.
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Nick Friedell: Whether you were watching him broadcast a game or talking to him in an arena somewhere -- Stacey always left you with a smile on your face. That's a hell of a legacy to leave. RIP SK. I will miss you.
Trae Young: Being in the gym today that Stacey King helped build… then hearing the news My deepest condolences to the Family! Stacey King will never be forgotten
He became such a presence on broadcasts that it’s easy to forget he was the Bulls’ first-round draft pick in 1989 (No. 6 overall) and played on their first three-peat teams. King was a reserve big man, and he had some moments. He had many more in broadcasting, a career he extended into podcasting with his show, “Gimme The Hotsauce” — another of his catchphrases — which was in its sixth year and co-hosted by longtime Chicago sportscaster Mark Schanowski. “I’ve known Stacey for a long time and became really close doing the podcast,” Schanowski said. “Just a tragedy. We’re all trying to process it.”
Steph Noh: RIP to an absolute legend @Stacey21King . I hope Stacey is remembered as a man of the people. He would stay for 45 minutes to an hour after games every night for 20 years in order to take pictures and meet Bulls fans.