The division’s play-off clashes are continuing with the winner of the 2018-19 PRO14 campaign still to be decided, but that didn’t stop the tournament handing out its plaudits on Sunday.
At a glittering ceremony in Dublin, nine awards were given in total.
King – who has 11 caps for Wales and has been a regular in the back-row for the Ospreys this season – was named the PRO14’s Tackle Machine.
King can play on both sides of the flank and at No 8 and his 96.6 per cent tackle completion meant he missed only eight tackles all season.
In total, the 28-year-old made 224 tackles and this season also became only the sixth Ospreys player to make 200 appearances for the Liberty Stadium-based region.
Blues flanker Olly Robinson – named last season’s Tackle Machine winner – received a newly introduced award for being the Turnover King.
Former Bristol man Robinson finished the PRO14’s regular season by winning possession against the head 26 times.
Guinness PRO14 award winners
Guinness Players’ Player of the Year: Bill Mata (Edinburgh)
Guinness Coach of the Season: Kieran Crowley (Benetton)
Guinness Pro14 Chairman’s Award: Ross Ford (Edinburgh)
Energia Next-Gen Star of the Season: Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors)
Gilbert Golden Boot: Jaco van der Walt (Edinburgh)
SportPesa Top Try-Scorer: Rabz Maxwane (Cheetahs)
Ronseal Tackle Machine: James King (Ospreys)
Big Red Cloud Turnover King: Olly Robinson (Cardiff Blues)
Dacia Iron Man: Tian Schoeman (Cheetahs)
