Game Face

A Lifetime of Hard-Earned Lessons On and Off the Basketball Court

By: Bernard King, Jerome Preisler

Narrated by: Bernard King

A memoir by the NBA Hall of Fame player, active from 1977-1993 and widely regarded as one of the all-time great New York Knicks.

NBA Hall of Famer Bernard King is one of the most dynamic scorers in basketball history. King was notoriously private as a player, and rarely spoke to the press-not about his career and never about his personal life. And even beyond his prolific scoring, King will forever be remembered for the gruesome knee injury he suffered in 1985. Doctors who told him he'd never play again were shocked when he not only became the first player to return to the NBA from a torn ACL, but returned at an All Star level. In Game Face, King finally opens up about his life on and off the court. In his book, King's basketball I.Q. is on full display as he breaks down defenses using his own unique system for taking shots from predetermined spots on the floor. King talks about matching up against some of the all-time NBA greats, from Michael Jordan, Julius Erving and Charles Barkley to Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing and many others. He also tackles issues of race and family off the court, as well as breaking a personal cycle of negativity and self-destructiveness with the help of his family. Engaging, shocking, revelatory, yet always positive and upbeat, Bernard King's memoir appeals to multiple generations of basketball fans.

Critic reviews

"Game Face is impossible to put down. Reading about Bernard's trials and tribulations takes you beyond the player to the man--and the redemptive resolve that makes him who he is today."
—Former New York Knick and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe

"With his offensive skills and patented scowl, Bernard was one of the NBA's fiercest competitors. After reading his book, I know how he got that way. Talk about a slam dunk, Game Face is flat-out fantastic!"—Charles Barkley, Two-Time Inductee, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

"Bernard and I have been close for over forty years, our friendship running from Tennessee to New York and wherever else our paths took us. Seeing him come into the locker room with his game face on always got us ready to play. This book provides a clear, dramatic window into what Bernard went through, as a basketball player and person, to reach a level of greatness that few achieve."—Ernie Grunfeld, President, Basketball Operations, Washington Wizards

"Bernard King is a hero and a great role model for me. He changed our game in a legendary way, proving beyond doubt that you can come back from adversity and still have intentional greatness Bernard's focus is something that everyone from business to sports should apply to their lives. Game Face reveals where it came from. It's an enlightening, inspirational story readers will long remember."—Nancy Lieberman, Naismith Memorial Basketball, Hall of Fame, Class of 1996

"A tender, gripping portrait."—Publishers Weekly

"As half of the Ernie and Bernie Show, Bernard King ushered in the golden era of Tennessee Vols basketball. Game Face matches the style with which Bernard played, charging courageously ahead through his journey into the Hall of Fame. I couldn't stop reading."—Rick Barnes, Head Coach, University of Tennessee Basketball Vols

I loved it, Bernard King did a excellent job.

I truly enjoyed the book, along with his passion in reading the book. Great job.....

Game Face

What an amazing story, I loved it from start to finish. I’m not a Knick fan, but I appreciate Bernard King, and what he did in his journey. A must read for sport fans.

Loves the story, difficult listen

Bernard is a very intelligent and well spoken man, however narrating like everything else requires a certain skill set. I feel he should have used a professional.