Tag: Bernard King

Cam Thomas passes Bernard King to make Nets history

In Saturday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas passed Bernard King to make Nets history.

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has been having a career season for the Nets as he has found his rhythm when it comes to being the most talented scorer on the team. With all of the great things he has done this season, he has also found a way to make some history along the way.

In Saturday’s 124-120 loss to the Golden State Warriors, Thomas scored 41 points for the sixth game of his career scoring at least 40 points. According to the Nets, Thomas broke the franchise record for the most 40-point games by a player who was 22 years old or younger, passing Bernard King who did it five times before turning 23.

Thomas, 22, is currently averaging 23.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 45% from the field and 35.3% from behind the three-point line. His career-high for points scored in a single game is 47 and Thomas has also had performances of 46, 45, 44, and 43 points, with all six games happening in 2023.

Thomas has seen his star rise this season after coming off the bench for Brooklyn in his first two seasons due to being on the same team as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Now that he has grown as a player at the same time as playing time has opened up, Thomas is making some great things happen for a Nets team that needs everything he can provide.

[lawrence-related id=56482,56442,56435]

Boston legend Larry Bird could ball, but did you know he also rapped?

If there was any doubt as to why Larry Legend did not eschew a career on the court for one on the stage, this might be the best evidence we have to settle such a question.

When it comes to the Hick From French Lick (as Boston Celtics Hall of Fame forward Larry Bird was affectionately known by his fans), very few people stacked up against the all-time great on the basketball court. But fewer today know about Bird’s incredibly brief career as a rap artist.

Yes, you read that right — though we might be stretching the concept of rapper about as far as one can before it ceases to make any sense. In an ad for one of the first sneakers sold with the endorsements of multiple NBA players, the Indiana native dropped some (very awkward) bars to finish the cipher started by lifelong friend and rival Magic Johnson.

“The Converse Weapon, that’s the shoe,” began Johnson. “Lets Magic do what he was born to do.” Detroit Pistons icon Isiah Thomas followed with “Maybe so, but that’s not all. Lets Isiah play like he’s 10 feet tall.”

“For the types of moves that never fail, the Weapon is the choice of Kevin McHale,” countered Bird’s star teammate, with Mark Aguirre and Bernard King dropping some verses before Bird took it home with “You already know what they did for me — I walked away with the MVP.”

If there was any doubt as to why Larry Legend did not eschew a career on the court for one on the stage, this might be the best evidence we have to settle such a question.

But then, very few NBAers have ever made that leap successfully — and fewer still with the level of skill on the court Bird possessed (h/t to Sportscasting’s Mike Thomas).

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

[mm-video type=video id=01gxymfeadaery9jyv5k playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gxymfeadaery9jyv5k/01gxymfeadaery9jyv5k-d3a07320bb274c46a169a5b677f31208.jpg]

Sixers’ Doc Rivers compares Tobias Harris to Hall of Famer Bernard King

Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers sees a lot of Bernard King in Tobias Harris’ game.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris is one of the team’s leaders in terms of his ability to score in bunches, his ability as a closer, and his leadership off the floor. He is a big part of this team’s success and they will not get to where they want to go without his contributions.

In Friday’s 104-99 Game 6 win over the Atlanta Hawks, Harris had himself a big night scoring 24 points on 9-for-20 shooting and he knocked down two triples to help Philadelphia get the win. It was a big bounce back for him after a dreadful Game 5.

Afterward, coach Doc Rivers explained that he wants Harris playing like Hall of Famer Bernard King, because they are similar players.

“We really showed him a lot of film on the ways to go at guys, quick decisions,” said Rivers. “I thought the last two games, we’ve gotten back into that old, sluggish, hold the ball. Tonight, it was quick. It was attacks downhill. That’s who he is. I keep telling him Bernard King, Bernard King more times I can use that name because that’s who he plays like and that’s what we want him to be.”

King is 6-foot-7 and he used his size and skill in order to get himself free for open looks. Standing at 6-foot-8, Harris is similar in both the size and the skill range. That is what Rivers continues to preach to Harris to get the most out of him and maximize his skills. It is all about using what he has to be able to get open looks for himself and help the team on offense.

[exco_embed id=”d8b9c085-4226-44f1-8495-36ad4e2aa62d”]

“That’s a great comparison when you’re talking about a player of Bernard King’s stature,” said Harris. “That’s a huge compliment to myself. One of the things that he tells me is really quick decisions, get to your spots, be efficient, just to be a winner.”

Also, King went to Tennessee as Harris did. The two of them have been able to talk before in the past and that is also very beneficial for Harris. Being compared to a guy who had himself a terrific Hall of Fame career is a big compliment for the Sixers forward.

“Being a Volunteer, going to Tennessee, I got to know Bernard really well even when I was getting recruited, getting to know him,” Harris finished. “He’s a great basketball mind and a great player as well. That’s a big compliment.”

Philadelphia will need Harris to keep his aggressiveness and continue to make these quick decisions as they head into Game 7 on Sunday with the Hawks.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f5k5xtr64thj7fw2 image=https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[lawrence-related id=47556,47549,47545]

Today in Nets history: New Jersey hosts franchise for first time as NBA team

It’s been a while since the Nets made the move from New Jersey to Brooklyn. It’s been even longer since the team first moved to NJ from NY.

Exactly 43 years ago to the day — on October 21, 1977 — Pete Maravich and the New Orleans Jazz were welcomed to Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, New Jersey, as the Nets played their first game in their new home as an NBA franchise.

Although the Nets put up a good fight, they couldn’t stop Maravich, who went off for 41 points in New Orleans’ 111-103 win. Al Skinner was New Jersey’s leading scorer with 28 points, while Bernard King posted a double-double (18 points and 12 rebounds) and Bubbles Hawkins scored 19 points off the bench.

The 1977-78 season was the Nets’ second season in the NBA, having made the transition with the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs from the ABA — after the then-New York franchise won two of the upstart league’s last three titles.

The loss to the Jazz (full box score) was one of 58 in the 1977-78 season, in which the Nets would only muster 24 wins.

 

Warriors crack top-15 in best-represented franchises on ESPN’s Top-74 list

The six players represented by the Golden State Warriors on ESPN’s top-74 players of all-time list combined for 2,445 games played with the franchise.

With no hoops action on the calendar, ESPN stirred the pot with the release of their Top-74 NBA players of all-time list. NBA Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain led the Golden State Warriors near the top, ranking at No. 6.

A pair of recent Golden State championship teammates cracked the top-15. Stephen Curry slid in at No. 13 on the list with his fellow Most Valuable Player winner Kevin Durant right behind him at No. 14.

Outside of the top-15, the Golden State Warriors were represented by three other players on the list.

Rick Barry, Robert Parrish and Bernard King rounded out Golden State’s bid at No. 43, No. 61, and No. 69 on the list. Notable Golden State omissions included Klay Thompson, Chris Mullin, Draymond Green and Nate Thurmond.

When it comes to franchise representation across the list, USA Today’s HoopsHype compiled the numbers, and the Warriors ranked right in the middle at No. 15.

The six players named on ESPN’s list combined for 2,445 games played while suited up with the Golden State Warriors.

The Boston Celtics were listed at the top, with 17 players combining for 9,080 games played with the team. The Los Angeles Lakers (17 players combining for 8,376 games) and the Houston Rockets (12 players combining for 4,162 games) rounded out the top three.

[lawrence-related id=26576,25928,25658,25400,24444,22415]

Ranking the top five small forwards in Nets history

Three Basketball Hall of Famers have played the small forward position for the Nets. But are any of them the best in franchise history?

Kevin Durant has the length of a power forward to go with the skillset of a small forward. By the time his Nets career comes to a close, it wouldn’t be stunning if Brooklyn’s new superstar was considered among the best at either forward position.

But Durant has yet to play one minute in a Brooklyn uniform, so he cannot be in the conversation for either best Nets power or small forward of all time. Though, even without Durant, the Nets have had some impressive forwards through the years.

After looking through all the small forwards to wears a Nets uniform — having already examined Nets point guards and shooting guards, as well — Nets Wire selected the five best in franchise history:

5. Albert King

Malcolm Emmons – USA TODAY Sports
Nets Stats:  13.6 PPG | 47.1 FG% | 4.6 RPG

King was a consistently solid player for the Nets throughout his seven-year Nets career. New Jersey clinched five consecutive playoff berths with him at the three.

He posted a career-high in points (17) and rebounds (5.8) per game in his second year in the league.

BrooklynNets.com ranks King No. 24 among the 25 best players in franchise history.

Ranking the top five small forwards in Nets history

Ranking the top five shooting guards in Nets history

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

Bernard King biopic in the works

At the 2017 charity event, Henry learned King’s autobiography, “Game Face,” was being published and offered to put it on the silver screen whenever he was ready. So, in October, Henry’s Protege Pictures bought the movie rights to King’s memoir and will produce the biopic along with Radar Pictures’ Ted Field, whose résumé includes the “Jumanji” franchise. “I’m overjoyed my memoir will be featured on the big screen,’’ King stated in an email to The Post. “After meeting Rodney, and talking for hours, I knew this project would happen. We are both New Yorkers, and he gets me.’’

King and Henry were at the Garden on …

King and Henry were at the Garden on celebrity row for the Jan. 22 game against the Lakers, and took publicity shots. After the memoir came out in 2017, Knicks owner James Dolan permitted King to conduct seven different book signings on Garden property. According to Henry, Dolan has been supportive about the movie. King has sat next to Dolan during games — including the contest after the infamous Charles Oakley arrest incident. “When Bernard and I informed Jim Dolan about the movie project, he was delighted and expressed to let him know how the organization can help moving forward,’’ Henry said. “I would be honored to shoot part of the film in the iconic Madison Square Garden.’’