Jalen Brunson made sure to use his moment at the United Center for more than just the scoreboard on Wednesday night.
After the Knicks’ guard helped finish off his fourth-quarter work, he paused with his local broadcast crew and asked to say a few words. Brunson then paid tribute to Stacey King, the former NBA champion and longtime Bulls color commentator who died unexpectedly in June.
“Real quick, just because we’re here, I just want to say RIP to Stacey King, who we lost recently," Brunson said. "A person who I knew when I was in high school out here.
He supported our team a lot. His kids went to Stevenson.
Just to see him not here today is a little sad. So, I want to say my thoughts and prayers are with him, and we miss him.”
The connection runs deep for Brunson, whose basketball rise began in the Chicagoland area. He starred at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, where he built a decorated resume that included a state title, two Gatorade Player of the Year awards, and a Mr. Basketball trophy.
Brunson also came close to staying in Illinois for college. The Fighting Illini and Villanova both drew serious consideration before he ultimately chose Villanova, a decision that set the stage for everything that followed.
That makes every trip back to the United Center a familiar one for him, even if one of the most recognizable faces from those nights is now gone. King’s passing has already prompted the Bulls to plan several tributes, including a special full-season jersey band and a night later this season dedicated to his legacy.
For Brunson, the gesture was simple and personal. It was also the kind of moment that lands with an entire building, especially one still grieving a voice and presence that meant so much to the organization and the city.
In Other News...
Bulls Young Core Showed Real Progress In A Brutal Finish
The Bulls had the kind of game that can feel useful even in defeat, pushing the Knicks in a competitive night at the United Center before coming up short, 133-127. Chicagos youthful energy was easy to see, and for long stretches the effort level matched the moment, even as turnovers and shaky shooting kept the game from settling into a comfortable rhythm.
New York found its footing after an uneven start and gradually took control in the second half, turning a promising Bulls performance into another lesson in how thin the margin can be against a veteran opponent. For Chicago, the encouraging part is that the young core looked engaged and capable of hanging with a quality team, but the ending also showed how much cleaner the execution still needs to be when the game tightens late. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Have A Backcourt Need Ty Jerome Could Help Solve
Ty Jeromes opening stretch with Memphis has put him on the radar for teams looking to steady a backcourt, and Chicago fits that description. The Bulls have young players who could use a reliable organizer next to them, and Jeromes early season production has made him look like a potentially useful answer if Memphis ever decides to listen on calls.
What makes the idea interesting is how quickly his value has climbed. Jerome has been one of the early bright spots in the league with increased scoring and playmaking, plus the kind of assist-to-turnover efficiency front offices covet, but there is always a question of how long a hot start can hold before the market adjusts. For Chicago, the fit is clear enough to keep watching, even if the asking price could be moving in the wrong direction. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Giddey Just Got Pulled Into An OKC Rumor Bulls Fans Notice
The early stretch of the 2026-27 season has already tested Oklahoma Citys depth, with injuries piling up and leaving the Thunder without key contributors Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace. So when Brian Windhorst floated the idea that any addition might come from someone the Thunder have already had, it was the kind of offhand note that can send fans and message boards in a hurry toward familiar names, including Josh Giddey.
For Bulls fans, the intriguing part is less the fantasy than the reminder of how closely Giddeys past still tracks with Oklahoma Citys present. A reunion would have to clear real hurdles, from fit to finances, and the money involved makes the whole idea feel more like rumor fuel than a looming transaction. Still, it is the sort of speculation that lingers because the Thunder know the player, the player knows the organization, and the league has a way of reviving old connections when teams get desperate for healthy bodies. [Read more 🡒]