Billy King (basketball)
Billy King | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 23, 1966 Sterling, Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Basketball executive |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Known for | General manager of Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers; President of Philadelphia 76ers |
Billy Matthew King (born January 23, 1966) is an American basketball executive recognized for his leadership roles as general manager of both the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, as well as serving as president of the 76ers.
Early life and education
Raised in Sterling, Virginia, King played high school basketball at Park View High School. He was awarded a scholarship to attend Duke University, where he wore jersey number 55 and gained a reputation for his defensive abilities. In his final collegiate season, he captained Duke’s team that reached the 1988 Final Four and earned the title of NABC Defensive Player of the Year.
Post-playing career
King started his coaching journey as an assistant coach with the Indiana Pacers under Larry Brown, having previously served as an assistant at Illinois State University. Additionally, he contributed as a color commentator for ESPN’s broadcasts of the Ohio Valley Conference.
In 1997, King joined the Philadelphia 76ers organization as vice president of basketball administration. He was promoted to general manager in 1998 and later became team president in 2003. During this time, he participated as an investor in a proposed Foxwoods Resort Casino project in Philadelphia.
King’s tenure as 76ers GM ended in December 2007 when Ed Stefanski took over. In July 2010, he was appointed general manager of the New Jersey Nets, replacing Rod Thorn. His period with the Nets included controversial transactions, notably trading several unprotected first-round draft picks to the Boston Celtics in exchange for seasoned players Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. These moves received significant criticism but indirectly contributed to the Celtics’ subsequent achievements. In January 2016, King was reassigned by the Nets and succeeded by Sean Marks.
Following his NBA career, King entered Philadelphia sports radio on 94 WIP in 2019. By 2022, he assumed the role of Senior Partner Head of Sports and Entertainment at Modern Executive Solutions. As of February 2024, King holds the position of managing director at ZRG Partners and TurnkeyZRG.
Personal life
On August 27, 2005, King married Melanie Lynn Frantz. The couple has three children.