Bernard King

[Army_of_One_Nation]

Does anyone else think that Bernard King should  be inducted in the Hall of Fame? I mean, after all, James Worthy is in it, right?

[guava_wrench]

Critiquing Worthy's admittance is opening a can of worms since people can start questioning C's who made it on the merits of being on winning teams.

You also don't make an argument as to what the connection is between the two players.

[Celtics4ever]

Worthy is worthy.   King had a few good years until his career was marred by injury.

[2short]

King had that period where he was the best (or second LARRY!) scorer in the nba.
I don't really think he makes it.  Where is the cutoff?  If he never got injured (see Grant Hill) it would be a definite.
Take a few old Bucks from that era Sidney Moncrief & Marques Johnson.  If Bernard is in, where do they stand?

[GreenFaith1819]

I'd say he's a lock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnThwmNBvfc

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kingbe01.html

Honors
1975-76 NCAA AP All-America (3rd)
1976-77 NCAA AP All-America (1st)
1977-78 NBA All-Rookie (1st)
1981-82 NBA All-NBA (2nd)
1983-84 NBA All-NBA (1st)
1984-85 NBA All-NBA (1st)
1990-91 NBA All-NBA (3rd)

One of (if not THE) best pure scorers of the 80's. He kept those NY teams competitive.

He seemed to elevate his game in the post-season, too. That one year (83-84) he averaged over 34 pts, 6 rebs and 3 assists.

I remember him and Andrew Toney being famous for torching BOS back in the day.

I can't hold King's health against him...and for that reason Grant Hill should be in too - when he's eligible.

But no question King gets in.

[csfansince60s]

As a Celtic fan, I can remember "fearing" Bernard King. He was a dominant player. 60 points in one game, I believe.

I never remember "fearing" Worthy. Great complimentary player to Magic and Jabbar, but not a player worthy of "fear". Lots of respect, but no fear.

Obviously the "Fear factor" is not a factor in HOF consideration, but if you asked me who would I rather start a team with BK or Worthy, I take King.




 

[CelticG1]

During his college tenure wasn't Worthy one of, if not the best college player at his time and collecting a national championship?

Its basketball, not NBA HOF.

I don't know too much about either specifically though to make a big argument(for all I know King did the same in college)

[csfansince60s]

During his college tenure wasn't Worthy one of, if not the best college player at his time and collecting a national championship?

Its basketball, not NBA HOF.

I don't know too much about either specifically though to make a big argument(for all I know King did the same in college)

King was a first team All-American for 3 years and a consensus All-American for 2.

[CelticG1]

During his college tenure wasn't Worthy one of, if not the best college player at his time and collecting a national championship?

Its basketball, not NBA HOF.

I don't know too much about either specifically though to make a big argument(for all I know King did the same in college)

King was a first team All-American for 3 years and a consensus All-American for 2.

Does someone have kings credentials and we can lime em up?

Here are some of  worthy
NCAA champ and runner up
MOP of champ NCAA season
7 time allstar
3x nba champ
Finals mvp

Nothing crazy but finals mvp is huge, mop of NCAA tourney is huge and not to mention the titles

[CelticG1]

During his college tenure wasn't Worthy one of, if not the best college player at his time and collecting a national championship?

Its basketball, not NBA HOF.

I don't know too much about either specifically though to make a big argument(for all I know King did the same in college)

King was a first team All-American for 3 years and a consensus All-American for 2.

Does someone have kings credentials and we can lime em up?

Here are some of  worthy
NCAA champ and runner up
MOP of champ NCAA season
7 time allstar
3x nba champ
Finals mvp

Nothing crazy but finals mvp is huge, mop of NCAA tourney is huge and not to mention the titles

Just looked it up his only major thing was MVP and no championships.

It looks like longevity is main thing which I 100% respect.

[slamtheking]

I saw both of their careers.  I think King was the superior player by far.  King put the Knicks on his back in the 80's and got them to the playoffs.  Injuries robbed him of an amazing career.

Worthy was a very solid player (for a scumbag Laker) but not the type that could carry a team on his back like King.

For me, HOF consideration has to include the player's longevity of greatness.  IMHO, King is borderline on this issue.  If he'd been healthy for another year or two in his prime, he gets in no question.  This is why I wouldn't consider Bill Walton or Grant Hill for the HOF.  Great college careers and good starts to pro careers but they couldn't stay on the court in their primes.  Grant has managed to hang around the league but he hasn't played at an elite level in a very long time.

[Donoghus]

I've been a big Pro-King guy on these boards for years. 

I certainly believe he belongs in the HOF.

[2short]

I saw both of their careers.  I think King was the superior player by far.  King put the Knicks on his back in the 80's and got them to the playoffs.  Injuries robbed him of an amazing career.

Worthy was a very solid player (for a scumbag Laker) but not the type that could carry a team on his back like King.

For me, HOF consideration has to include the player's longevity of greatness.  IMHO, King is borderline on this issue.  If he'd been healthy for another year or two in his prime, he gets in no question.  This is why I wouldn't consider Bill Walton or Grant Hill for the HOF.  Great college careers and good starts to pro careers but they couldn't stay on the court in their primes.  Grant has managed to hang around the league but he hasn't played at an elite level in a very long time.

I agree with your thought on longevity with regard to King.
Bill Walton as a college player alone is hall of fame worthy.  Complete domination, win streak etc.

[slamtheking]

I saw both of their careers.  I think King was the superior player by far.  King put the Knicks on his back in the 80's and got them to the playoffs.  Injuries robbed him of an amazing career.

Worthy was a very solid player (for a scumbag Laker) but not the type that could carry a team on his back like King.

For me, HOF consideration has to include the player's longevity of greatness.  IMHO, King is borderline on this issue.  If he'd been healthy for another year or two in his prime, he gets in no question.  This is why I wouldn't consider Bill Walton or Grant Hill for the HOF.  Great college careers and good starts to pro careers but they couldn't stay on the court in their primes.  Grant has managed to hang around the league but he hasn't played at an elite level in a very long time.

I agree with your thought on longevity with regard to King.
Bill Walton as a college player alone is hall of fame worthy.  Complete domination, win streak etc.

you can certainly make the case for Walton based on college performance and include the Portland title and his finals MVP that year.  the fact he was a key player for the '86 title helps his case.

not so much for Hill.

one other note on King -- if he had stayed healthy his whole career and continued to play at his prime level, he'd have been Jordan before Jordan.

[bdm860]

One thing that hurts Bernard King is that there is just so many SF/wings who could score in his era.  The list goes something like this:

Utmost Echelon
Larry Bird - HOF
Julius Erving - HOF

Top Tier
George Gervin - HOF
David Thompson - HOF
Dominque Wilkins - HOF
Alex English - HOF

Borderline Top Tier/2nd Tier
James Worthy - HOF
Adrian Dantley - HOF
Mark Aguirre
Kiki Vandeweghe
Bernard King
Walter Davis
Marques Johnson
Reggie Theus

2nd Tier
Mike Mitchell
Jamaal Wilkes
Kelly Tripucka
Purvis Short
Calvin Natt
Ricky Pierce
Dale Ellis
Xavier McDaniel

Next Generation
Scottie Pippen - HOF
Chris Mullin - HOF

2nd Tier Next Generation
Reggie Lewis
Danny Manning
Sean Elliot
Glen Rice
Jamal Mashburn
Glenn Robinson


Now I admit, this comes mostly from me looking at the stats, and what I've read over the years, plus watching a few classic games, but to me it seems like saying Monta Ellis should be in the Hall if he remains a top scorer over the next 5 years.  Or it would be like saying Gilbert Arenas should be in the Hall if he just had another 3 or so good years before injuries set his career off track.  There was just so many good, high scoring forwards in Kings time, he doesn't stand out enough for me to think he deserves to be in.