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Knicks Great Bernard King Among 12 Finalists For Election Into Basketball HOF

HOUSTON (CBSNewYork/AP) — Gary Payton, Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond are among 12 finalists for election into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The announcement of the finalists kicked off All-Star Weekend in Houston.

Former Houston Cougars coach Guy Lewis has been chosen as a finalist for the first time since 2003. Current Louisville coach Rick Pitino and former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian also are finalists for the 2013 class.

The others include former NBA stars Maurice Cheeks, Spencer Haywood and Bernard King, longtime North Carolina women's coach Sylvia Hatchell and five-time WNBA All-Star Dawn Staley. Boston Celtics great Tom Heinsohn, already inducted as a player, is a finalist in the coaching category.

King played with the Nets from 1977-1979 and with the Knicks from 1982-1987. He finished his career with New Jersey in 1993. The Brooklyn native was a four-time NBA All-Star and the 1985 NBA scoring champion. 

The 2013 class will be announced at the Final Four in April.

Is Bernard King a Hall of Famer in your book? Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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