Bernard King: One of the Greatest SFs Ever!
Today most think Carmelo Anthony is some kind of revolutionary offensive force at the small forward position. Well, meet the originator. If not for injuries, you might be hearing people talk about Bernard in the same breath as guys like Bird and Pippen.
I'm a die hard Laker fan, and I can say, without a doubt, that Mr. King was a much better player than James Worthy. Worthy just happened to stay pretty healthy his entire career, and also had the privilege of playing with Magic Johnson for 9 seasons.
No joke, Bernard was that good of a small forward. My man led the league in scoring in the 84-85 season (averaged 32.9 points per game). His other career highlights include scoring 60 against the New Jersey nets on Christmas Day 1984 and scoring 40 points in four straight playoff games against Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons in 1984.
I always compare Melo’s game to Bernard King’s, because like Melo, he was a high scoring, bruising small forward who was deadly in the low post as well as from the mid-range. Melo’s post moves (spin moves, fade aways, foot work, and up and unders) are so similar to Bernard’s, it’s pretty damn scary.
Injuries have caused us to wonder about the “what ifs” with modern players such as Grant Hill and Penny Hardaway. But believe me, the same thoughts should come to mind with B-King. The man was the truth!
I often wonder what the Knicks would have been like if a healthy Bernard could have joined forces with a young Patrick Ewing.
Maybe the best indicator of his former greatness might be the fact that he made TNT’s “next 10” list as one of the 10 players they thought should be added to the already composed greatest players of all time list. Those guys are usually right on with their analysis, so you can pretty much trust most of what they have to say.
Anyhow if you need further proof, you can peep the You Tube video below:
I always compare Melo’s game to Bernard King’s, because like Melo, he was a high scoring, bruising small forward who was deadly in the low post as well as from the mid-range. Melo’s post moves (spin moves, fade aways, foot work, and up and unders) are so similar to Bernard’s, it’s pretty damn scary.
Injuries have caused us to wonder about the “what ifs” with modern players such as Grant Hill and Penny Hardaway. But believe me, the same thoughts should come to mind with B-King. The man was the truth!
I often wonder what the Knicks would have been like if a healthy Bernard could have joined forces with a young Patrick Ewing.
Maybe the best indicator of his former greatness might be the fact that he made TNT’s “next 10” list as one of the 10 players they thought should be added to the already composed greatest players of all time list. Those guys are usually right on with their analysis, so you can pretty much trust most of what they have to say.
Anyhow if you need further proof, you can peep the You Tube video below:
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3 comments:
there's really nothing better than watching those games from '84 when 'Nard and Zeke were going at it. God bless Hardwood Classics!
Thanks for this. I saw just about every single Knicks game bernard played when I was a teen and still try to tell folks how incredible he was. People just don't know. Had he not been injured Bernard and Ewing would have had multiple rings... no doubt.
Sign the petition and pass it on.
http://www.petitiononline.com/bella1/petition.html
Bernard King deserves to be in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
To: Sports Fans
Bernard King, one of the all time greatest basketball players who ever donned a uniform both in college and the pros, deserves to be in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. During his prime, especially with the New York Knicks, he was one of the most explosive scorers of his era. In an article written by Don Hareas on the NBA website( http://www.nba.com/features/hareas.html ) he quotes Dominique Wilkins as saying, “I have never feared anybody that I’ve played against – Bird, Magic, Doctor, Michael – and I respect and love all of those guys,” said Dominique Wilkins who entered the Hall last Fall. “Bernard King is the only guy that ever scared the hell out of me.”
His major career accomplishments are:
Bernard King's career point total of 19,665 ranks him 31st in total scoring in NBA history, as of September 2006. Of the 30 players with more career points, only George Gervin, Bob Pettit and Elgin Baylor played fewer games than King. At the time of his retirement, King ranked 16th on the all-time NBA scoring list.
His 32.9 points per game average in '84-85 is the 21st highest single-season scoring average of all time.
His career scoring average of 22.5 points per game is the 23rd highest all time, as of May 2006.
Bernard King is currently 28th on the all-time field goals made list, with 7,830.
One of 19 NBA players to score 60 or more points in one game.
Recorded eight games of scoring 50 or more points.
Had college jersey number retired.
Had second longest streak of beating the Kentucky Wildcats (5 straight).
In the Hareas article, Wilkins goes on to say, “For whatever reason, people get overlooked and I can’t explain it. I don’t know. But the funny thing is, his peers know. They know what Bernard King meant to this game. They know what he did to players in this game. People at the small forward position, guys did not want to play against Bernard King because they had to work too hard. He was relentless.”
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
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