He was New York’s king in the 1980s.
Bernard King that is.
And according to Larry Bird, one of the greatest scorers of the basketball of all-time, it was King who was actually the greatest that Bird had ever seen.
Not Michael Jordan.
Not Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Not Dominique Wilkins.
It was King.
“I don’t understand how Bernard does it,” Bird told the New York Times back in 1984.
“He’s in heavy traffic — guys all over banging him and waving their arms — and he gets the shot off, not just any shot, but the shot he wants, and he cans it.
“Time after time. He’s the best scorer I’ve ever seen or played against.”
It is important to note that Bird said this before Jordan had even played a full season in the NBA, so take from that what you will.
But it is still extremely high praise for the New York Knicks star and Basketball Hall of Famer.
King’s Knicks and Bird’s Celtics had a few infamous battles in the mid 1980sGetty New York City wrapped their arms around King and adored him during his time in a Knicks jerseyGettyKing played for the Knicks for only four seasons, but led the league in scoring during the 1984-1985 campaign with nearly 33 points per game.
He was a four-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA player, and highly regarded as one of the game’s most underrated talents.
He had a 14-year career that saw him play for the New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, and Washington Bullets, along with the Knicks.
When speaking to the New York Times in 1984, King highlighted his scoring arsenal, and deep bag.
“I have basically four moves on offense from each side of the basket,” King said.
“When I get the pass, if I’m being guarded by a smaller man, I’ll simply spin around and shoot over him.
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King was known for his impressive scoring talentsGetty“Most guys spin on their toes, but if you spin on your heel you’re closer to the basket and I think you are in a position to shoot faster.
“I also try to make big men move laterally. They don’t like to do that.”
King highlighted the fact that rarely will he take more than one or two dribbles to get his shot up.
“That establishes some rhythm for my move,” he said. “Three dribbles might throw me off.
“I know the guy guarding me won’t react as quickly as I will because he doesn’t know that I’m going there, and I know that he is probably getting help from a teammate when the lob is coming in.
“So one guy is standing there, and I’m going by the other guy as he comes over, like two ships passing in the night.”
He was one the NBA’s greatest scorers that is forgotten by many.
But not Bird.
And definitely not by the city of New York.
The Knicks could use King in Game 6 against the Indiana Pacers, looking to win on the road and set up a series decider at Madison Square Garden.
But fans will have to make do with Jalen Brunson, who is on an all-time streak.
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