Bernard King developed a huge fanbase in his short time in New York.
Credit: Getty Images
The greatest scorer in Knicks history has finally scored a trip to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Bernard King, who played with the Knicks from 1982-87, was officially named to the Hall of Fame on Monday morning in the annual announcement during the Final Four in Atlanta.
The 6-foot-7 forward is known not just as one of the best Knicks scorers of all time, but one of the finest pure scorers in league history. King spent only four of his 14 NBA seasons with the Knicks, but had some of his best seasons in New York.
He led the league in scoring in 1984-85 with New York, posting 32.5 points per game in a season cut short by injury. He averaged 26.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game and shot 54.3 percent from the field in his Knicks career.
King was a four-time All Star, including twice with the Knicks. He finished in the Top 10 in scoring five times and is 25th all time on the NBA scoring list. King is fondly remembered for the 1983-84 NBA playoffs when he averaged 34.8 points per game and scored 40 points in four straight games in the opening round against Detroit. He also averaged 29.1 points per game as he battled the Larry Bird-era Celtics to a seven-game series in the next round before bowing out.
He also averaged an astounding 25.8 points and 13.2 rebounds per game in three college seasons at Tennessee. He was a First-Team All American in 1976-77.
King was drafted by the Nets and spent three seasons in New Jersey — one in the final season of his career.
The other inductees announced Monday include Louisville coach Rick Pitino, former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian and former Sonics point guard Gary Payton.
Pitino won an NCAA title with Kentucky in 1996 and is currently in the NCAA title game, to be played Monday night against the Wolverines. Tarkanian never won a title at UNLV, but led the Rebels to a 34-1 season in 1990 after a championship-game loss to Duke. He made four Final Fours (1977, 1987, 1990, 1991). Payton is known as one of the best defensive players in NBA history and was a nine-time All Star. He is fourth all time in steals and eighth in assists.
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