On This Date in Sports February 1, 1984: Bernard King's 50-50

Frank The Tank 2/1/2024 12:00 AM

It was a Texas two-step for Bernard King of the New York Knicks as he scored 50 points in back-to-back nights. King started his Texas Massacre on January 31st, scoring 50 points with eight rebounds as the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 117-113. Showing no ill effect of playing in two cities on consecutive nights, Bernard King again scored 50 points with seven rebounds as the Knicks edged the Dallas Mavericks 105-98 at Reunion Arena.

Bernard King was born on December 4th, 1956, in Brooklyn. After attending the University of Tennessee, King was seventh overall in the NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets in 1977. King had a solid rookie season with the Nets, averaging 24.2 ppg. Despite putting up 21.6 ppg 21.6 in his second season, the Nets traded Bernard King to the Utah Jazz. Injuries dogged King in Utah, as he played just 19 games and was dealt again to the Golden State Warriors. With the Warriors, he had two solid seasons, making his first All-Star team in 1982 before being traded again, this time to the New York Knicks.

Bernard King’s arrival in New York came at a good time, as Knicks fans were starving for a star player to embrace, as it had been a decade since their last championship. Fans hoped Michael Ray Richardson could be the next star in the Garden, but personal demons would always haunt Richardson, who was sent to Golden State in the Bernard King deal. King had a solid first year in New York, averaging 21.9 points per game, but it was the 1983/84 season when he became the King of New York, as coach Hubbie Brown made him the focus of the Knicks' offense. Bernard King was an All-Star again in 1984 and was named the first-team All-NBA.

The Knicks had a solid season in 1984, as they held a 24-18 record while starting a three-game swing through Texas. The Knicks arrived in San Antonio on January 31st; the Spurs were not having a great season and came into the game at HemisFair Arena at 20-24. Bernard King found himself in a Tuesday Night duel with George Gervin. The Iceman scored 41 points for the Spurs, but King and the Knicks would win the battle, as the Knicks forward reached 50 for the first time in his career, shooting 20-of-30 from the floor while adding eight rebounds as New York won 117-113.

The Knicks would travel across Texas the following day for a game at the Reunion Arena against the Dallas Mavericks to start February 1st. The Mavericks got solid games from Mark Aguirre and Rolando Blackman, but once again, it was too much Bernard King, who became the first player since Rick Barry of the San Francisco Warriors in 1967 to score 50 points in consecutive games. King’s shooting was even better against Dallas, making 20 of 28 points as the Knicks won 105-98, with Bernard King scoring 50 with seven rebounds.

Bernard King would follow up his two 50-point nights with 25 points in a 103-95 win over the Houston Rockets at the Summit Arena three nights later. The Knicks would make the playoffs at 47-35 and fall to the Boston Celtics in the second round, as Bernard King had a career-best 26.9 ppg in 1984. King would have an even bigger year in the 1984/85 season, winning the scoring title at 32.9 ppg. However, a devastating late-season knee injury ended Bernard King’s days as an NBA superstar, as he would play just six games over the next two seasons.