I don't know what was more spectacular. Worthy's dominance against the Suns in this game, or Chick predicting most of his moves. Chick in my mind the best play by play announcer in basketball of all time. Worthy in his prime, unstoppable. Especailly that spin move on the baseline. Kind of like Kareem's sky hook. You knew it was coming, but not much you could do about it. In today's game, he'd still be unstoppable due to his fundamentals and fierce competitiveness.
Basketball was wide open as could be back than … theres no help defense lmaooo once you get laser your first man and elevate your near the rim idk what your watching theres no help here.
If you want to watch Worthy put on another clinic without Magic Johnson, watch the 1989 Finals against the Pistons, Game 4, where Worthy put up 40 points, played shooting guard, ... and put on a show.
Trust me,if Worthy and Byron were healthy ,Lakers would have still beaten the up and coming 1991 Bulls.You could see that they were just bodies outhere going through the motions in Game 3, 4 and 5.Lakers and Magic healthy still had about 3 years left of high level basketball.Then All three of them should have retired at the same time.
Thanks for posting. Somehow missed this game. Pretty amazing that Worthy in his prime could muster 21 a game a average. Not impressive by today’s standards. But the game was different, Magic distributed the ball to everyone, and Worthy did not initiate- he needed to get the ball in the post or on the break. He also played on sore knees. That game 7 finals triple-double earned him huge props for being clutch.
That finger roll at the start of the 2nd half was amazing. He palmed the ball, brought his arm under the defender and finished all while gliding through the air.
NCAA Champion 82, Best NCAA player 82, NBA First Draft 83, Champion with Lakers 3 times and MVP finals 88. To me one of the best of all times. No doubt about it
I was the biggest showtime lakers fan in the world, and James was my favorite player, but even I have to admit that Scottie was the better player, i.e., better ball handler, better defender, better passer, better range. The one aspect of the game where James was clearly better was in the post.
At that time, Worthy had already put his time in and was a future Hall-of-Famer. Pippen had only completed his 5th year and was a relatively new all-star. Both Worthy and Dominique Wilkins should have been considered at forward over Pippen (Pippen was chosen because of Jordan's request). Also, we all know that Isiah should have been on that team pretty much ahead of everyone except Bird, Jordan, and Magic.
Quick first step and you were toast . He was an incredible player and great Laker no one ever speaks about. That shows why those Lakers of the 80s were so good. 5 HOFers throughout the decade with Jamaal Wilkes, Bob Mcadoo ,Worthy. Magic and of course Kareem.
Isiah Thomas said that in the 88 finals game 7 they just had no answer for him. He was so quick. There was one still picture where you see Worthy taking a jumper with Dumars "close" to him and three other Pistons trying to get to him as well. There was nothing they could do. Chuck Daly at halftime told Salley, Mahorn, Rodman "guys, as far as Worthy is concerned you're on your own"
this is Big Game James after Magic and Kareem are gone....showing all his skills, talents, abilities....and listening to Chick Hearn is such a treasure, the best play-by-play man in NBA history.....Chicky Baby and Kobe are the Laker Legends like no other....
People forget that Worthy was the best player on the North Carolina national championship team in 82 that featured a true freshmen named "Mike" Jordan.
Worthy came at the right time they needed another half court option on offense and Worthy filled the bill nicely.Became more of a low post scorer than I remember him in college but hey whatever works.
My favorite players of all time were Lakers it started with Jabbar and Michael Cooper then with Worthy & Magic then veterans like Jamal Wilkes and Bob Macadoo , Byron Scott, AC Green , Rambis it was amazing they ever lost. But when Magic left the magic was gone, I liked Shaq in Orlando but not so much with Lakers not a Kobe fan though He was great, after the old Lakers were gone
@@eddieG667 Nah,Magic,Worthy and Byron all healthy would still have beaten the Bulls for at least two more years.Then all three should have retired by 1993 or 1994 making way for the Upcoming Bulls waterdown Dynasty of the 1990s.Just waterdown opposition,Knicks not the smartest team in the world,Clyde the loner in Portland,and a senior citizen team in the Utah Jazz,a bit of Malone and not much else in that team,definitely not the Jazz of say 1987,Now that was a team,sorry Bulls u ain't beating The Utah Jazz of 1987.
@@jesuscarbonell3566 yeah those teams you mentioned weren’t anything special. People act like there was bunch of strong teams but in reality none of them win more than one titles outside of the Rockets if you remove the Bulls from the picture
Yeah, that was the infamous series in which the whole Laker squad pretty much had enough of Riley crackin' the whip on 'em and threw him overboard after they finally got eliminated. Shame, they were certainly more than good enough to have made the Finals again that season, but I think they were still bitter at how Riley thoroughly ran them ragged prior to the start of the '89 Finals the year before which ended up costing them both Magic and Byron (torn hamstrings) and a VERY possible three-peat. Can't say that I blame them, either!
@@Herrera777 Appearances can be deceiving, lol. What people didn't realize back then (according to the 'Showtime' book that came out a few years back), Riley's already-inflated ego had gotten so big at that time to the point where Magic and his teammates were thoroughly fed up and complained to the front office about it after the season was over. Next thing you know, the "Coach of the Year" found himself out on his ass the following offseason and the less-abrasive Mike Dunleavy was brought in to take his place as full-time head coach. Turns out there was a lot going on behind the scenes back during the Showtime era that the average fan had no clue about and this just happened to be one of those moments...
@@PeekaPeep I was glad to have watched nearly every Lakers game from 1989 to 1991 until the dreadful day MJ announced his HIV. Prior to 1989 I wasn't really tuned in, even though my Dad was a die hard Lakers fan since the 70's. He was a fanatic. I really got involved when they won back to back and that video "Dazzling Dunks and Bloopers" came out. I was in love with Basketball after that. Followed Jordan too...
@@Herrera777 Yup, for me the NBA I knew and loved died the moment Magic came out with that press conference stating that he had the HIV and therefore had to retire from the Lakers. There were many people at that time when they heard the news who truly believed he was gonna die soon after (myself included). Glad he's still alive and kickin' nearly 30 years later. Will always be a Laker fan even though those years with an old salty injury-prone Kobe (2014-'16) were hands-down the worst I've ever witnessed. Really should've retired after the 2013-'14 season, but better late than never. Now I'm enjoying them again more than ever with the team they have in place now. :-)
His first step was so fast, defenders had to lay off. When defenders laid off and gave him a clean look from 17 Worthy would bury them. who the Fuck would volunteer to cover this monster ?
Lakers won 111 to 107 here's the total breakdown for the game. It even shows Magic and KJ playing 3 minutes each. www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198911070LAL.html
I was a HUGE "showtime" fan. Loved the Coop-a-loop and it just was't fair to have Magic as a PG. James Worthy was a great player, but top 50 of all time? No way. He was a good player playing with a legend. He even caught of a couple good years of Kareem.
"Magic" Johnson was just more marketable and easy to create a persona due to the "rivalry" with Bird. Worthy was unstoppable when isolated. Johnson without Kareem and Worthy would have been "just another good player".
You're both off .they each would've been great w/our rach other. Look at how Magic was when Kareem retired. Still taking them to the finals. Remember, his last 3 years Worthy wasnt healthy. That was the reason for the decline not lack of Magic, as this clip proves, great players are great regardless. Together is what made them champs.
Worthy was arguably the best post scorer of all time, and most certainly top 5, so of course he's top 50. I would love to see your top 50 list and what players you'd have above him.
I don't know what was more spectacular. Worthy's dominance against the Suns in this game, or Chick predicting most of his moves. Chick in my mind the best play by play announcer in basketball of all time. Worthy in his prime, unstoppable. Especailly that spin move on the baseline. Kind of like Kareem's sky hook. You knew it was coming, but not much you could do about it.
In today's game, he'd still be unstoppable due to his fundamentals and fierce competitiveness.
I’m so glad I grew up watching the Lakers during the showtime era!
Imagine Worthy playing in today's wide open spread out basketball. He would be unstoppable.
Ask Lebron james
Basketball was wide open as could be back than … theres no help defense lmaooo once you get laser your first man and elevate your near the rim idk what your watching theres no help here.
@@Discipleofthelordandjesus the lane was so open in todays nba...look how opponents clogged the painted area in worthy era
@@Discipleofthelordandjesus because its the Phoenix Suns.
Worthy's footwork was so underrated, just the way he moved so eligant
Grew up in the Magic /Kareem/Worthy era. Nobody shut down big game James! Rodman said he was his toughest guard ever
He was not only a great great player but hes also very humble as long as i live i'll remember james worthy
If you want to watch Worthy put on another clinic without Magic Johnson, watch the 1989 Finals against the Pistons, Game 4, where Worthy put up 40 points, played shooting guard, ... and put on a show.
He put the team on his shoulders. But without Byron and Magic we had no chance.
Trust me,if Worthy and Byron were healthy ,Lakers would have still beaten the up and coming 1991 Bulls.You could see that they were just bodies outhere going through the motions in Game 3, 4 and 5.Lakers and Magic healthy still had about 3 years left of high level basketball.Then All three of them should have retired at the same time.
Thanks for posting. Somehow missed this game.
Pretty amazing that Worthy in his prime could muster 21 a game a average. Not impressive by today’s standards. But the game was different, Magic distributed the ball to everyone, and Worthy did not initiate- he needed to get the ball in the post or on the break. He also played on sore knees. That game 7 finals triple-double earned him huge props for being clutch.
possibly the most slept on legend of all time
Nonsense
That finger roll at the start of the 2nd half was amazing. He palmed the ball, brought his arm under the defender and finished all while gliding through the air.
NCAA Champion 82, Best NCAA player 82, NBA First Draft 83, Champion with Lakers 3 times and MVP finals 88. To me one of the best of all times. No doubt about it
There are so many forwards who were better (even on the Lakers)
I will always stand by my thinking that WORTHY, not Pippen should of been on the Dream Team..or definitely over Mullin or Drexler..
I was the biggest showtime lakers fan in the world, and James was my favorite player, but even I have to admit that Scottie was the better player, i.e., better ball handler, better defender, better passer, better range. The one aspect of the game where James was clearly better was in the post.
His "high ankle" sprain from the 1991 playoffs seem to have slowed him down. Pippen was a better choice though Worthy is an outstanding talent.
Few other players could of been on there also....all political
At that time, Worthy had already put his time in and was a future Hall-of-Famer. Pippen had only completed his 5th year and was a relatively new all-star. Both Worthy and Dominique Wilkins should have been considered at forward over Pippen (Pippen was chosen because of Jordan's request). Also, we all know that Isiah should have been on that team pretty much ahead of everyone except Bird, Jordan, and Magic.
@@Ryenobal I'm not a Thomas fan. But u are 100% correct.
Having Big Game on your team was awesome!! Even the Celtic fans were like DAMN HE GOOD!!
As a Celtics fan I was like "Damn, don't let him get the ball".
@@teej783 ...Hah hahaha no one could stop big game!!
James Worthy.
Quick first step and you were toast . He was an incredible player and great Laker no one ever speaks about. That shows why those Lakers of the 80s were so good. 5 HOFers throughout the decade with Jamaal Wilkes, Bob Mcadoo ,Worthy. Magic and of course Kareem.
The best first step in the game and no one player can guard him
Isiah Thomas said that in the 88 finals game 7 they just had no answer for him. He was so quick. There was one still picture where you see Worthy taking a jumper with Dumars "close" to him and three other Pistons trying to get to him as well. There was nothing they could do. Chuck Daly at halftime told Salley, Mahorn, Rodman "guys, as far as Worthy is concerned you're on your own"
those up and unders just killed people
this is Big Game James after Magic and Kareem are gone....showing all his skills, talents, abilities....and listening to Chick Hearn is such a treasure, the best play-by-play man in NBA history.....Chicky Baby and Kobe are the Laker Legends like no other....
My favorite is "He might have heard him. He did not see him."
3:18 ok, there u go why I like worthy, marivich,my own basketball style, Eamilo moves,Tom c.?. Thx
he's so long and agile. like pippin and julius erving combined.
People forget that Worthy was the best player on the North Carolina national championship team in 82 that featured a true freshmen named "Mike" Jordan.
Worthy came at the right time they needed another half court option on offense and Worthy filled the bill nicely.Became more of a low post scorer than I remember him in college but hey whatever works.
Worthy was unguardable
Must be during the '89-'90 Season?
Big Game James was on fire this game.
WORRRTTHHHYYYYYY!!!!!!!
TOP 5 NBA PLAYER OF ALL TIME
BIG...GAME...JAMES...Yep...Yep...One Love Fam...
Big Game James!
ah, the glory days of laker b-ball
My favorite players of all time were Lakers it started with Jabbar and Michael Cooper then with Worthy & Magic then veterans like Jamal Wilkes and Bob Macadoo , Byron Scott, AC Green , Rambis it was amazing they ever lost. But when Magic left the magic was gone, I liked Shaq in Orlando but not so much with Lakers not a Kobe fan though He was great, after the old Lakers were gone
Worthy usually stepped his game up even more when Magic wasn't playing!
If Magic was at 100%, Byron Scott wasn’t injured, and Worthy played like he plays here… The Lakers would’ve beat the Bulls in the 1991 Finals
If shit had wings it would fly
@@oval291 lol...yeah Bulls still would've won. Lakers were done at that point.
@@eddieG667 Nah,Magic,Worthy and Byron all healthy would still have beaten the Bulls for at least two more years.Then all three should have retired by 1993 or 1994 making way for the Upcoming Bulls waterdown Dynasty of the 1990s.Just waterdown opposition,Knicks not the smartest team in the world,Clyde the loner in Portland,and a senior citizen team in the Utah Jazz,a bit of Malone and not much else in that team,definitely not the Jazz of say 1987,Now that was a team,sorry Bulls u ain't beating The Utah Jazz of 1987.
@@jesuscarbonell3566 yeah those teams you mentioned weren’t anything special. People act like there was bunch of strong teams but in reality none of them win more than one titles outside of the Rockets if you remove the Bulls from the picture
Imagine Worthy now playing PF taking these youngsters to school in the post?
These Suns defeated LA in the play-offs later that year. I was 14 years old and really pissed off!
Yeah, that was the infamous series in which the whole Laker squad pretty much had enough of Riley crackin' the whip on 'em and threw him overboard after they finally got eliminated. Shame, they were certainly more than good enough to have made the Finals again that season, but I think they were still bitter at how Riley thoroughly ran them ragged prior to the start of the '89 Finals the year before which ended up costing them both Magic and Byron (torn hamstrings) and a VERY possible three-peat. Can't say that I blame them, either!
@@PeekaPeep Confusing because Riley was Coach of the Year and Magic was MVP. They also had best record in the league?
@@Herrera777 Appearances can be deceiving, lol. What people didn't realize back then (according to the 'Showtime' book that came out a few years back), Riley's already-inflated ego had gotten so big at that time to the point where Magic and his teammates were thoroughly fed up and complained to the front office about it after the season was over. Next thing you know, the "Coach of the Year" found himself out on his ass the following offseason and the less-abrasive Mike Dunleavy was brought in to take his place as full-time head coach. Turns out there was a lot going on behind the scenes back during the Showtime era that the average fan had no clue about and this just happened to be one of those moments...
@@PeekaPeep I was glad to have watched nearly every Lakers game from 1989 to 1991 until the dreadful day MJ announced his HIV. Prior to 1989 I wasn't really tuned in, even though my Dad was a die hard Lakers fan since the 70's. He was a fanatic. I really got involved when they won back to back and that video "Dazzling Dunks and Bloopers" came out. I was in love with Basketball after that. Followed Jordan too...
@@Herrera777 Yup, for me the NBA I knew and loved died the moment Magic came out with that press conference stating that he had the HIV and therefore had to retire from the Lakers. There were many people at that time when they heard the news who truly believed he was gonna die soon after (myself included). Glad he's still alive and kickin' nearly 30 years later. Will always be a Laker fan even though those years with an old salty injury-prone Kobe (2014-'16) were hands-down the worst I've ever witnessed. Really should've retired after the 2013-'14 season, but better late than never. Now I'm enjoying them again more than ever with the team they have in place now.
:-)
His first step was so fast, defenders had to lay off. When defenders laid off and gave him a clean look from 17 Worthy would bury them.
who the Fuck would volunteer to cover this monster ?
Lakers won 111 to 107 here's the total breakdown for the game. It even shows Magic and KJ playing 3 minutes each. www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198911070LAL.html
Marvellous
Chick and Stu🏀🎙️
THE REAL KING JAMES NOT LEBRON
Poor Tom Chambers
Magic wasn't playing in this game.
Was Magic out for this game?
He and Kevin Johnson got ejected in the first few minutes for brawling.
Did the Lakers win this game?
Lakers 111 Suns 107 www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198911070LAL.html
I was a HUGE "showtime" fan. Loved the Coop-a-loop and it just was't fair to have Magic as a PG. James Worthy was a great player, but top 50 of all time? No way. He was a good player playing with a legend. He even caught of a couple good years of Kareem.
"Magic" Johnson was just more marketable and easy to create a persona due to the "rivalry" with Bird. Worthy was unstoppable when isolated. Johnson without Kareem and Worthy would have been "just another good player".
teejay Trujillo Ok man. If that's the way you see it. But they were winners and that's what counts in the end.
You're both off
.they each would've been great w/our rach other. Look at how Magic was when Kareem retired. Still taking them to the finals. Remember, his last 3 years Worthy wasnt healthy. That was the reason for the decline not lack of Magic, as this clip proves, great players are great regardless. Together is what made them champs.
Worthy was that dude and earned his reputation as one of the best.
Worthy was arguably the best post scorer of all time, and most certainly top 5, so of course he's top 50. I would love to see your top 50 list and what players you'd have above him.
WORRRR THYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!
💕
Worthy was unrealistic running the fast break he would destroy 2days nba
He would have average speed if he played today 😂
Anyone who thinks James Worthy is "one of the greatest forwards of all time" doesn't know anything about basketball.
lol
@@sheba021 All knowledgeable basketball fans are laughing with (an at) you
Folfddoffussences Oul LoudUNC