Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and former New York Knicks forward Bernard King made significant contributions to the game in distinct ways. Among the two iconic NBA players, James is currently the oldest player in the league, while King has been a prolific and dominant forward in the 1980s.
While LeBron will be playing his 22nd season in 2024-25, Bernard played 14 seasons in the NBA. The Lakers forward has also represented the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat in his illustrious career. At the same time, the 67-year-old played for the New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Washington Bullets.
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LeBron James Vs. Bernard King: Achievements
Hailing from Akron, Ohio, LeBron James was among the most sought-after draft picks in the NBA’s history. In 2003, he was selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers and won the Rookie of the Year in 2004. He was named an All-Star 20 consecutive times from 2005 to 2024, winning the All-Star MVP thrice in 2006, 2008, and 2018.
Apart from his All-Star selections, James was named in All NBA First Team 13 times, Second Team thrice, and four third team mentions. The 6’9” forward was named five times in NBA All-Defensive First Team. He won four NBA MVPs and four Finals MVP awards.
On the other hand, the NBA Hall of Famer witnessed an abusive childhood and racist police as he was arrested three times for traffic rules violations and marijuana possession before joining the NBA. After cutting short his college career due to controversies, he was picked 7th overall by the Nets in 1977.
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King’s early NBA years were plagued with drug abuse and violence against women, and he earned his first of four NBA All-Star selections in 1982. While the former 6’7” NBA star never won an MVP or Rookie of the Year award, he won the NBA Comeback Player of the Year award in 1981.
LeBron James Vs. Bernard King: Who Has Better Average?
LeBron James surpassed the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2023 to become the all-time leading NBA scorer. In 1,492 regular season games, the Lakers forward has scored 40,474 points and 8,162 points in 287 playoff games. LeBron is the only NBA player with at least 10,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists. Here is a tabular comparison of LeBron and Bernard’s average career statistics.
| Average | LeBron James | Bernard King |
| Points | 27.1 | 22.5 |
| Rebounds | 7.5 | 5.8 |
| Assists | 7.4 | 3.3 |
| Steals | 1.5 | 1 |
| Blocks | 0.7 | 0.3 |
In his 14-season NBA career, Bernard King played 874 regular-season games, scoring 19,655 points, over 5,000 rebounds, and 2,000 assists. He played 28 playoff games and registered 687 points, 121 rebounds, and 65 assists.
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LeBron James Vs. Bernard King: Wins Comparison
In his 21 NBA seasons, LeBron appeared in 10 NBA Finals, winning four of them. The 2008 NBA scoring champion won the 2012 and 2013 titles with the Heat, the 2016 championship with the Cavaliers, and the 2020 with the Lakers. While King James has featured in 17 NBA playoff seasons, Bernard King played 5 playoff seasons.
On the other hand, Bernard King has never won an NBA ring in his career and has made no Finals appearance. Both James and King led the league in scoring in one season. Additionally, the Lakers star was named the assists leader in 2020.
LeBron James Vs. Bernard King: Net Worth
In 2022, LeBron James became the first active NBA star to enter the $1 billion club. The 39-year-old has earned around $480 million in pretax salary from his NBA teams, Cleveland, Miami, and Los Angeles. From business ventures and endorsements, LeBron amassed nearly $900 million. According to Forbes, LeBron is ranked 2494th globally, with a net worth of $1.2 billion.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Bernard King has a net worth of $2 million. In his NBA career, the retired forward made around $12.8 million. He also worked in the 1979 film Fast Break and appeared in an episode of Miami Vice. However, he avoided the entertainment business, making a few appearances for NBA TV and the MSG Network.
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