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YouTube Gold: Bernard King

Somewhat overlooked today, King was one of the great players of his era and authored the definitive comeback from injury.

By JD King
New York Knicks v Washington Bullets
LANDOVER, MD - CIRCA 1987: Bernard King #30 of the Washington Bullets shoots against the New York Knicks during an NBA basketball game circa 1987 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. King played for the Bullets from 1987-91.
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Bernard King was a New Yorker who got the dream of every kid from Gotham: he got to play for his hometown team and he was sensational.

At one point, he scored 50 points in back-to-back games. Larry Bird said he considered King to be the best forward in the NBA.

Then, in 1985, he suffered a devastating knee injury, tearing his ACL, tore his knee cartilage and a broken bone.

Today we have arthroscopic surgery but in his day, an ACL injury was usually career ending.

He started a rehab that was controversially secret. No one knew what he was doing.

Whatever he did, it worked, although New York cut him before he could prove his point. He would make his point with the Washington Bullets.

For a generation of fans and players, most all New Yorkers, King went from being a great player to an icon of grit and perseverance. He’s beloved by them in a way that few sports figures ever will be.

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