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Player Guide · Legend

Bernard King

One of the greatest pure scorers in Knicks history — a guide to collecting Bernard King's rookie card, his mid-1980s Knicks-era Star Company issues, and autographs.

Position
Forward
Team
New York Knicks
NBA Debut
1977
Rookie Card
1977

Shop Bernard King cards on eBay

Live listings — singles, rookies, and graded slabs, updated by the second on eBay.

Bernard King rookies Graded (PSA) Card lots

Browse every live “Bernard King card” listing on eBay →

Bernard King is one of the greatest pure scorers in New York Knicks history — a Basketball Hall of Famer (2013), a four-time All-Star, and the man who led the entire NBA in scoring during the 1984-85 season. Drafted seventh overall in 1977, he became a Knick in 1982 and delivered some of the most electric offensive basketball Madison Square Garden has ever seen before a devastating knee injury in March 1985 cut his New York prime short.

What to collect

King’s rookie card is the headline of his market: his 1977-78 Topps issue, from the year he was drafted. Be aware it pictures him as a New Jersey Net, since he didn’t reach New York until 1982.

His Knicks-era cards are the tricky part, and worth understanding before you buy. Topps stopped producing NBA cards after the 1981-82 season and didn’t return until 1992-93 — so there is no Topps card of King as a Knick. The cards that show him in New York blue during his scoring-title peak come from the mid-1980s Star Company sets, the NBA’s card licensee through that gap. Those Star issues, plus authenticated autographs, are what a serious Knicks-King collection is built around.

Buying tips

  • Buy graded (PSA, SGC, BGS) for the 1977-78 Topps rookie — vintage centering and edge wear make a condition guarantee essential.
  • If you’re building a Knicks collection specifically, focus on the mid-1980s Star Company issues — those are the ones that show King in New York, and condition/authentication matter even more for Star cards.
  • The eBay rails below show live King listings — rookies, graded slabs, Star-era cards, autos, and lots. Confirm the exact set and year on each listing.

More Knicks legends

King scored alongside a franchise full of Hall of Fame names. Read up on the 1990s franchise center Patrick Ewing, the championship backcourt of Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, and captain Willis Reed. Explore the full Knicks legends collecting guide or start from the New York Knicks team hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bernard King's rookie card?
King's rookie card is his 1977-78 Topps issue, from the year he was drafted seventh overall. Note that it shows him with the New Jersey Nets, where he began his career; he didn't join the Knicks until 1982. It's still his one true rookie and the headline vintage chase. Confirm the exact card and set on the listing, and prefer a graded copy.
Which Bernard King cards are the Knicks cards to collect?
This is where King's collecting story gets unusual. Topps stopped making NBA cards after the 1981-82 season and didn't return until 1992-93, which means there is no Topps card of King during his New York peak. His key Knicks-era cardboard comes from the mid-1980s Star Company sets — the NBA's licensee through that gap — which show him in New York blue during his scoring-title years. Always confirm the exact set and year on the listing.
Why is Bernard King a Knicks legend?
King was one of the most explosive scorers the franchise has ever had. He led the entire NBA in scoring in 1984-85, dropped 60 points on Christmas Day 1984, and turned in a legendary 1984 playoff run before a catastrophic knee injury in March 1985. A four-time All-Star and Basketball Hall of Famer (2013), his fearless mid-range game made him a New York icon and keeps his vintage cards in steady demand.