NBA

Bernard King is high on Knicks-Nets rivalry

It’s too close to call, says Bernard King.

King, who played for the Knicks and Nets during a Hall-of-Fame career that will be honored this weekend, said injuries will decide which New York team is the better one in 2013-14 but said he believes both are legitimate Eastern Conference title contenders.

“Injuries play such a major factor in how a team will perform,’’ said King, who will be enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Sunday in Springfield, Mass. “It’s going to be competitive every game they face each other. It’s going to be a very interesting and great rivalry. But I think they’ll both be in the mix [for the Eastern Crown]. Miami is the top tier, they’re the team you’re chasing. No reason they [the Knicks and Nets] can’t compete with the other top-tier teams in the conference.’’

It is a basketball renaissance in the Big Apple and fitting King, out of Brooklyn, kick-starts it all Sunday. King started his career with the Nets, playing his first two seasons and donned the Knicks jersey from 1982-87. One documentary on King will be shown tonight on NBA TV and another one on his life by ESPN is in the making.

Though King said he thinks the Knicks should be as good as last season when they went 54-28, earning the East’s second seed, he is in awe of the Nets’ roster.

“You got five all-stars on that team,’’ said King, referring to Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Book Lopez. “That’s a tremendous mix there but chemistry and how will they fly together, that takes time.’’

King also said some have overlooked the addition of Andrei Kirilenko to the Nets bench. King’s only concern is if the outspoken Pierce will make the transition to Brooklyn.

“The Celtics are the only club he’s ever played on,’’ King said. “He’s a Hall-of-Famer, but it’s a change. He’s only played with one franchise. It can be a little disconcerting. It takes time to get used to no longer being on that one team.’’

King said Williams will have to make an adjustment this season being “more of a floor general’’ and said he believes Jason Kidd will become “an outstanding coach.’’

As for the Knicks, King said he thinks their big addition, 7-foot perimeter center Andrea Bargnani, should be very effective as long as he is more “defensive-minded.’’

“Bargnani is a tremendous addition,’’ King said. “You don’t have many big men today in the NBA. The East likes to play small-ball. He can really thrive in coach Woodson’s system and get his shots.’’

“Melo is going to be Melo,’’ King said of Carmelo Anthony. “I’m sure he’s going to be better than last year and want to continue ascend in the top 2, 3 guys in the league, which he is. He is part of that in my opinion.’’

King raved about another local product who is now a Knick.

“Metta World Peace coming home, he’s going to be excited about it,’’ King said. “He adds another dimension of talent.

“The losses of [Steve] Novak and Chris Copeland, they’re going to miss them,’’ King added. “They have what it takes to make up for their losses. I look for an outstanding year. I think because they’re defensive-first, they’re always going to be in the mix.

“With all the injuries, with [Amar’e] Stoudemire, if he’s can be healthy this year I’m sure you’re going to see a different player. I look for the Knicks to be right there.’’