Stacey King On Thunder TV?
By Randy Renner
The Thunder are still looking for a TV analyst for their games on Fox Sports Oklahoma after the resignation of Grant Long a few weeks ago.
Among those that have been mentioned as possible candidates is former OU star and current Chicago Bulls TV analyst Stacey King.
King grew up in Lawton and became an All-American center at Oklahoma during the Billy Tubbs era.
King was back inside the Lloyd Noble Center over the weekend playing the OU Legends game and he was asked by reporters about the opening on the Thunder TV team.
"I've been in Chicago nine years now as a broadcaster so I'm pretty much entrenched there. But I do hear my name brought up in rumors about doing the Thunder but I don't really concern myself with that."
He did however, seem to leave the door open just a bit.
"I live in Chicago right now and I'm happy in Chicago so until I hear something, Chicago doesn't want me anymore or Oklahoma City comes after me, who knows?"
The Thunder have kept the search for Long's replacement under wraps but it's believed they would prefer to have someone hired by Thunder media day on September 29th.
King was also asked what he thought about the Thunder's chances in the Western Conference this coming season.
"Well, you gotta stay healthy," he said. "If (Russell) Westbrook stays healthy and no one else gets hurt I like their chances."
But King said the guy who could play the biggest role (besides Westbrook or Kevin Durant) in securing a possible championship season for OKC is second year center Steven Adams.
"He's the key for them this year," King said. "If he can really develop and give them that low post presence they lacked last year I think Oklahoma City can come out of the West. Of course San Antonio is the defending champion and they've got their whole cast coming back so it's gonna be an exciting NBA season."
A season, like the last several, that will have King dividing his loyalties.
"If (the Thunder) aren't playing the Bulls I'm an Oklahoma City fan but when they're playing the Bulls, I'm a Bulls fan."
King was drafted 6th overall by Chicago in the 1989 NBA Draft. He played a decade in the league for the Bulls, Timberwolves, Heat, Celtics and Mavericks.