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50 Greatest NBA Players Without A Championship (Updated Through 2015-16)

By Phil Watson

May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) shoots over Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) shoots over Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON, MA - CIRCA 1982: Bernard King #30 of the New York Knicks Drives on Kevin McHale #32 of the Boston Celtics during an NBA basketball game circa 1982 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. King played for the Knicks from 1982-87. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bernard King; Kevin McHale
BOSTON, MA – CIRCA 1982: Bernard King #30 of the New York Knicks Drives on Kevin McHale #32 of the Boston Celtics during an NBA basketball game circa 1982 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. King played for the Knicks from 1982-87. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bernard King; Kevin McHale /

43. Bernard King

New Jersey Nets 1977-79, 1993; Utah Jazz 1979-80; Golden State Warriors 1980-82; New York Knicks 1982-85, 1986-87; Washington Bullets 1987-91

Bernard King was a Brooklyn kid who was a two-time All-American at Tennessee before he was taken with the seventh overall pick in the 1977 NBA Draft by the just-relocated New Jersey Nets.

Off-the-court trouble led to King being traded to Utah in October 1979 and more off-court trouble nearly ended his career.

King was arrested on multiple counts of sexual assault (he was later given a suspended sentence and entered a drug treatment program) and played only 19 games for the Jazz.

Traded to the Warriors in September 1980, he was able to get his career back on track.

Just before the start of the 1982-83 season, King was swapped to his hometown Knicks for All-Star guard Micheal Ray Richardson.

In 1984, he put together one of the most amazing playoff runs ever, averaging—averaging—42.6 points a game as New York upset the Detroit Pistons in a five-game first round series. “Held” to just 29.1 points a game in the conference semifinals, the Knicks pushed the eventual champion Boston Celtics to seven games before they were thumped at Boston Garden in Game 7.

That was the furthest King would ever advance in the postseason.

Despite missing two full seasons and part of a third because of knee problems, King won the NBA’s scoring title in 1984-85, was a four-time All-NBA pick and a four-time All-Star and was runner-up for the MVP award in 1983-84, losing out to Larry Bird. He finished seventh in the voting the following year despite playing just 55 games.

King is a top-50 scorer, ranking 42nd in NBA history with 19,655 points, while his 22.5 points per game average is 25th all-time.

King was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 and currently works as an analyst for Knicks’ telecasts.

The final tally on King’s playoff career:

NBA Finals: 0-0
Conference Finals: 0-0
Conference Semifinals: 0-2
First Round: 2-3

Next: 42. Warriors Won A Year Too Late