James Worthy
Inducted:
2003
Player Stats
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Born
February 27, 1961
Gastonia, North Carolina, U.S.
Position
Small forward
College
North Carolina (1979–1982)
James "Big Game James" Worthy was the definitive "third star" of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers "Showtime" dynasty. A 6'9" small forward with elite speed and a devastating first step, Worthy was the perfect transition partner for Magic Johnson. He was the rare #1 overall draft pick (1982) to join a defending championship team, a stroke of luck that helped the Lakers dominate the decade. True to his nickname, Worthy’s production invariably rose when the stakes were highest.
His crowning achievement came in the 1988 NBA Finals, where he recorded the only triple-double of his career in a Game 7 victory over the Detroit Pistons, earning him the Finals MVP. Beyond his pro success, he was a collegiate legend at North Carolina, where he led a team featuring a freshman Michael Jordan to the 1982 NCAA title. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Worthy's Awards and Honors
- NCAA Champion & MOP (1982)
- NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1982)
- 42 Retired by the Los Angeles Lakers
- 52 Retired by the North Carolina Tar Heels
NBA Records
- NBA Finals MVP (1988)
- 3x NBA Champion (1985, 1987, 1988)
- NBA 50th & 75th Anniversary Teams
- 7× NBA All-Star (1986–1992)
- 2× All-NBA Third Team (1990, 1991)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (1983)
NBA Team
Los Angeles Lakers (1982–1994)
NBA Draft
1982: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Los Angeles Lakers
Number Worn
42, 00
NBA Stats
Season:
12 (1982-1994)
Games Played:
926
Game Started:
717
Points:
16,320 (17.6 ppg)
Rebounds:
4,708 (5.1 rpg)
Assists:
2,791 (3.0 apg)
Field Goal %:
40.6%
Free Throw %:
74.1%
Point Per Game:
10.2
NBA Championships:
3 (1985, 1987, 1988)