The Chicago Bulls are set to implement a rotation of analysts to fill the role left vacant by the passing of longtime color commentator Stacey King. King, who was integral to the Bulls’ broadcasts for 19 seasons and a three-time NBA champion with the team in the early 1990s, died earlier this year following a fall at his home. The rotation strategy reflects the organization’s intent to explore several familiar voices alongside play-by-play announcer Adam Amin for the 2026-27 season.

Among those considered for the analyst rotation is Robbie Hummel, a former Purdue star known for his college basketball commentary. Hummel has previously substituted on Bulls broadcasts, and while there is mutual interest between him and the Bulls, his ability to take on a full-time role is limited by his existing national commitments. The selection process aims to balance multiple analysts to work alongside Amin and others who fill in during his national football and baseball coverage dates.

The Bulls’ choice to use a rotation approach is influenced by several factors. Stacey King was a uniquely charismatic figure, and replacing him with a single permanent analyst could be challenging. This system allows the team to evaluate different analysts’ chemistry with Amin and their resonance with Bulls fans. Additionally, the evolving economics of regional sports networks have tempered announcers’ pay scales, which complicates luring recent NBA stars to full-time roles despite their popularity with the audience.

This financial reality contrasts with the remarkable earnings reported by many contemporary NBA players, such as Joakim Noah, who made approximately $142 million during his career. While some argue those amounts shrink notably due to taxes, offering current stars full-time broadcasting salaries for over 70 game dates is often impractical. Consequently, the Bulls are opting for a practical, multi-analyst approach to maintain strong fan engagement while managing the economic realities of sports media today.