He is best known for winning the bronze medal at the inaugural 1983 World Championships in the men's 100 metres.

At the same championships, he was part of the team that won gold in the 4x100 m relay for the United States, and in doing so set a new world record of 37.86 s.[1] He set his personal best (10.04) in the 100 metres on June 17, 1988, at the 1988 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Tampa, Florida.

King was also twice national champion at the short sprint indoors: in 1984 at 60 yards and in 1988 at 55 metres.

In 1986, he became a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity through the Theta Delta chapter at the University.

King was ranked among the best in the US and the world in the 100 m sprint event in the period 1979 to 1988, according to the votes of the experts of Track and Field News.