Big Game James — three-time NBA champion and the 1988 Finals MVP who was Michael Jordan's toughest Finals opponent.
James Ager Worthy was born in Gastonia, North Carolina in 1961 and played college basketball at North Carolina under Dean Smith, winning the 1982 NCAA Championship. Los Angeles Lakers selected him first overall in the 1982 NBA Draft. His 12-season career — spent entirely with the Lakers — produced three NBA championships (1985, 1987, 1988), seven All-Star appearances and the Finals MVP award in 1988. He averaged 17.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game across his career. His nickname Big Game James was earned through his consistency in the biggest moments — he averaged 21.1 points in Finals games across his career. His 1988 Finals performance against the Detroit Pistons — 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in the decisive Game 7 — is considered one of the finest individual championship clinching performances in history. He was part of the Showtime Lakers alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — the most entertaining team of the 1980s. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003 and named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team in 1996. After retirement he became a television analyst for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Fast break finishes and clutch playoff performances
How They Played
Athletic finisher with excellent speed for his size, dominant in transition
Lasting Impact
One of the greatest power forwards in Lakers history and key member of Showtime era
NBA Champion 3x
Career Honours
- NBA Champion 3x
- Finals MVP (1988)
- All-Star 7x
- All-NBA First Team
- NBA 50th Anniversary Team