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One-on-One with Albert King

By Andrew Stephens, legendsofbasketball.com
December 06, 2007
 
How did you get involved with basketball?
Growing up in Brooklyn in the inner-city, there were always basketball courts. I started playing in 

Albert King
NBAE/Getty Images 
the seventh grade on the playground in the rain, snow and summer heat. All of my older brothers played basketball, and, as I got older, I wanted to do whatever they did. My game took off in the eighth grade under the legendary New York Coach, Gil Reynolds. Back when I was in middle school, the late, great sports writer, Dick Schaap, did a feature article on me that was published in ABC World News. That article gave my ego a major boost because I started drawing more and more attention, especially from the young ladies in school. 
 
Funniest story you can share from your playing career?
The reason why I keep things in perspective is because of something I experienced my rookie year. I was in a shopping mall and someone asked for my autograph.  Here I am all happy and feeling good about myself, so I write my name and hand it back to the fan. They looked at it very carefully and said, ‘Albert King? Oh my God, I thought you were Bernard.’ The fan gave me back the paper and walked away. Back then it wasn’t funny, but I can look at it now and get a kick out of it.
 
What have you been up to since retiring from the league? 
After my playing career, it took about three years after the phone stopped ringing to realize there’s life after basketball. I was talking to my neighbor one day, and we got into a discussion about the different businesses he owns. He was in construction, but also in the food industry. I asked him about the food industry and worked six months at his place to see if I would like it. As my interest grew, I went into training for three months, and the rest just eventually progressed to where I am today. I’ve been a franchise owner with Wendy’s for the past 10 years in the New York and New Jersey areas. Each year I set new goals and focus on exceeding my expectations as the business continues to grow. My idol is Junior Bridgeman, and, of course, Dave Bing, for the success they have achieved in their respective industries.   
 
We often hear from fans and the media asking what the King Brothers are up to these days. How do you and your brother manage to remain successful, yet under the radar, since retiring from the game of basketball?
I’ve always had a love for basketball and enjoyed the game of basketball. I realize it was the money I saved up from my NBA career that enabled me to start up my business since retiring from the game. I never looked at it as something I had to do, but something I love doing. I’m a firm believer that you can’t let something you did before control your life now. If you live in your past, you are going to miss out on your future. I think being in New York, there’s so many things going on, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd and stay under the radar. I’m proud to say my brother Bernard and I are doing well, and we thank the fans for thinking about us.
 
Who would be your Maryland All-Time Starting Five?
 
Len Elmore, Len Bias, Buck Williams, Brad Davis and Albert King 
 
 
 
FUN FACTS: 
 
Full Name:  Albert King
 
Date & Place of Birth: December 12, 1959 / Brooklyn, NY
 
Most influential persons(s):  Parents

Albert King
NBAE/Getty Images 

 
Greatest Competitor:  Michael Jordan
 
Players you did not look forward to matching up against: Dominique Wilkins, Bernard King, Adrian Dantley and Alex English
 
Legends you admired growing up:  Dr. J, Dave Cowens, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Walt “Clyde” Frazier
 
Most Memorable College Moment:  Winning the MVP in the ACC Tournament in1980.
 
Superstars of today worth the price of admission:  LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash and Jason Kidd
 
Current superstar you would have loved to match up against in your prime:  Bruce Bowen
 
Favorite vacation spots:  The Islands of St. Martin. I have no choice, we go every year.
 
Must See TV:  Law and Order, 24 and Discovery Channel with my 11-year-old son.
 
Funniest teammate(s):  Michael Ray Richardson and Darryl Dawkins
 
Favorite athlete(s) outside of basketball:  Terrell Owens and Randy Moss
 
If you did not play basketball, you would have:  I’m happy I didn’t have to find out…
 
Advice for players of today:  Enjoy it while you can, but remember there’s life after basketball.
 
The King Family:  We come from a nice size family starting with my oldest brother Thomas, Bernard, Ronald, myself, Deborah and Gerald. 
 
Who leads the series between you and your older brother, Bernard, one-on-one:  He did then, and I would now. This might be a surprise to you, but since we were three years a part, we never played one-on-one until we made the pros. However, when we played in the off-season, he used to crush me…although I got lucky a few times.