It carries the aroma of urban legend, the aftertaste of impossible, the molecules of cartoonish streetball feats performed by Earl Manigault or Joe “The Destroyer” Hammond.

But there is footage, confirming every word. There are countless articles that captured what Bernard King meant in the moment, shielding the truth from nostalgia, revisionism and the shoddy hard drive in our heads.

“He’s the best scorer I’ve ever seen or played against,” <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/24/sports/the-mysterious-moves-of-bernard-king.html#:~:text=He's%20in%20heavy%20traffic%20%2D%20guys,ever%20seen%20or%20played%20against.">Larry Bird said</a> during his 1984-85 MVP season.

There may be no athlete in the history of New York sports who inspired more reverence with such modest team success. There may be no local legend whose legacy and career were forever altered as muc…{ai:summary}Bernard King is celebrated as one of the greatest scorers in basketball history, with accolades from contemporaries like Larry Bird, who called him the best scorer he had ever faced. His legendary status is supported by footage and numerous articles that preserve his impact on the game. #sports

The rise, fall and rise again of Bernard King: ‘He was half-athlete, and half-artist’

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