Category Archives: New Jersey Nets
Simpson, Ralph
Charge: Assault, burglary, and criminal mischief
Arrest Date: July 30, 1980
Franchise: New Jersey Nets
Age 30
King, Bernard
Charge: Driving under the influence, driving without a license, possession of cocaine
Arrest Date: December 18, 1978
Franchise: New Jersey Nets
Age 22
Details: Yet another arrest for King came when police found the Nets star passed out and slumped over the steering wheel of his Corvette while in possession of a small amount of cocaine. This was the third arrest for King since being drafted by the Nets just 18 months earlier, and his fifth arrest since joining the University of Tennessee basketball program. He was ultimately traded to the Jazz by the frustrated Nets, where he eventually faced his most serious charges of sexual assault after a New Years incident in 1980.
King, Bernard
Charge: Marijuana possession, prowling, and resisting arrest
Arrest Date: July 15, 1977
Franchise: New Jersey Nets
Age 20
Details: This was King’s second arrest that week, both since being drafted by the Nets only a month earlier. This time he was arrested after a man told police King had attempted to break into his apartment. He was subsequently found to possess marijuana and resisted arrest. King had previously been arrested twice while in college with the University of Tennessee, and would subsequently be arrested two more times during his playing career.
King, Bernard
Charge: Breaking and entering
Arrest Date: July 10, 1977
Franchise: New Jersey Nets
Age 20
Details: Exactly a month after being drafted by the Nets, King celebrated broke into a University of Tennessee athletics building, a stealing a television. This was the first of four arrests during his professional career, though he had also been arrested twice previously while in college for smoking marijuana, drunk driving, and driving without a license. He would also be arrested a mere 5 days after this for marijuana possession, prowling and resisting arrest.
