Bernard King

Bernard King was a three-time SEC Player of the Year and consensus All-American forward for Tennessee.

Bernard King was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1956. He attended the University of Tennessee and immediately became the SEC's most dangerous scorer. He averaged 25.8 points and 13.9 rebounds per game across three seasons — among the highest combined averages in SEC history. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and was All-SEC twice. His combination of explosive athleticism, post scoring and mid-range shooting made him the most complete offensive forward in the conference. He left after his junior year. New Jersey Nets selected him seventh overall in the 1977 NBA Draft. His professional career produced an NBA scoring title (32.9 points per game in 1984-85) before a catastrophic knee injury in 1985 required reconstruction and 18 months of rehabilitation. His comeback to near-All-Star level five years later — at an age and after an injury that ended most careers — was one of sport's great rehabilitation stories. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. His Tennessee career established the scoring foundation that his professional peak fulfilled, but only after overcoming the most serious injury a player of that era had survived.

King was known for his exceptional scoring ability and smooth offensive moves around the basket. He possessed excellent footwork and could score from multiple positions on the court, combining power moves in the post with a reliable mid-range jump shot.

King helped elevate the University of Tennessee basketball program during his three seasons and remains one of the greatest players in school history.

• Consensus first-team All-American 1977
• Consensus second-team All-American 1976
• 3x SEC Player of the Year