So glad you did this vid. Most Laker fans know about how Worthy single-handedly won game #7 vs. Detroit in 1988 finals: 44 mins, 15-22 (that's 68% shooting in a game 7! Legendary!), 36 pts, 16 reb, 10 ast. What fans don't know about Worthy is his fg%. In his first 9 years, he never shot LESS than 52% (while averaging about 20 ppg too). That's LBJ level stuff. Lastly, "Big Game James" really started in 1982. NCAA Final vs. Georgetown, people remember Jordan's jumper to put UNC ahead with 15 secs left, but Worthy led all scorers with 28 pts on 13-17 shooting. Incredible player.
Worthy was also a COMPLETE basketball player,he could score/shoot,pass the ball and defend different players one-on-one ( this is a dig at Kobe,didn't need to shoot the ball 30 times a game )
It’s crazy to me that Worthy isn’t remembered or respected more. That guy was instrumental in Lakers chip dubs in the 80s. Great player, very fun to watch!
I agree!! As a Celtics fan, I feared Worthy the most!! He was clutch late in the game! And Just like Dennis Johnson, the late great DJ!! Bird said on more than one occasion that they couldn't have won without DJ and he was the best teammate he ever had and made him a better player!!
I remember back in the day watching the road games on KCAL 9. If it was a close game but James scored 28 or 30 we won. He would put the team on his back. The opposition could not stop him. What a player.
As a Celtic fan, Worthy was the one I feared. You never knew when he'd take the shot and he was clutch when they needed that basket. The guys you love to hate!!! Rivalries are the best in sports and it's a downright shame our kids are not experiencing what we had!!
I as a longtime Lakers fan got to see Worthy play at the Forum from '85 to '91; he was a very exciting player especially on fast breaks. I even once got to see your Celtics play at the old Boston Garden in early 1988 vs Charles Barkley and the Sixers; that was quite an experience that I will never forget. Your right about the 80's Lakers-Celtics rivalry was the greatest ever; they'll never be anything like that again. Great memories though.
I respect that, felt the same about Bird. We hated him in LA but you can’t deny the man was a walking bucket but also had great vision, passing ability, etc. Grew to hate him less and respect him more.
@@obatron1 Same here, I hated him back then but I feared him cause he was so clutch and could make that big bucket anytime. I respected his toughness! I remember when he called his own team sissies after a Finals loss to the Lakers and also him throwing the ball at Laimbeer. Those were classic moments, as well as the trash talk was funny.
He's pivotal to the Lakers winning those championships in the eighties. I'm glad that he played for them. One of the greatest players to ever do it. He gets over looked a lot and that's not right.
I remember the 1984 Finals, Game 2. James Worthy threw the ball to Gerald Henderson. I wish the Lakers selected 'Nique in that draft instead of Worthy.
@@clu4u No, the Lakers won Game 1 in Boston, and if Worthy doesn't make that bad pass in Game 2, they are up 2-0 going back to LA. All the Lakers have to do is inbound the ball and get it to the front court, and they win. Since they lost the series in 7 games, that one game was the difference.
@SEZWAH I agree with you, however Scott got hurt as well. Also, the Lakers were too cheap to re-sign Michael Cooper, I think he would have been the difference maker.
@@overratedgm5713 dunno. I’m a Laker fan and think they’re weren’t hungry anymore by 91. Even with Coop, I really think they would’ve needed a better coach than Dunnleavy who was clearly outcoached that season. Couldn’t even adjust to a full court press by Pippen. Riley would simply have another ball handler and just put Magic in the post when Detroit tried that.
He was arguably the best fast-break player ever. His combination of speed, athleticism and basketball IQ made him deadly when he filled the lanes. It’s true that guys like Chambers and Wilkins would’ve won titles if they had been there, instead of James, but I don’t think it would’ve been at quite the same level of success, either. I think Worthy’s overall impact was greater.
He was a quiet guy playing on a team with Magic and Kareem. FACTS... no one could be more FLASHY than Magic and no one could be more QUIET and brooding than Kareem. So he was stuck in no-mans-land. Awesome player than was blazing fast and could spin off the defender faster than anybody. Respect "BIG game James"
In my hood on southside playgrounds of Chicago, when Worthy was at North Carolina we all called him, " Da Word." Then once he got to the league he played behind the great Silk Wilk. But when he became a starter and started taken over games,then playoff series and became finals MVP, he became known as, " Big Game James." One of the craziest things about his game,he would drag his leg at times as if he had an injury. But once you saw him fly out on the break, or be a blur on one of his many post moves,you knew he was abnormal and one of the all time greats hands down.
The greatest thing about Worthy is despite having absolute top level talent he was no ego clown. He approached the game like a guy who barely made the team.
James Worthy was one of my favorite players growing up! Another thing that doesn't get mentioned is that James Worthy every now and then could stick the 3! Thanks for the memories dear James and God bless you and your loved ones!
Must of been a Carolina thing with the spin, some said Jordan was the quickest, as a Celtics fan back then I'd always so no, James is the quickest, hell, we all knew it was coming but he still went by so many defenders.
If you ever get a chance , try to find the Lakers playoff game at dallas , i believe it was '88' gm3 or 4 ... Worthy was on the wing with the ball in a half-court set ... his old teammate sam perkins was guarding him , when it looked like he was headed for the baseline ... & all of a sudden , he did that SPIN-MOVE you were talking about ... he spun back inside & DUNKED over-top of sam & either roy tarpley or james donaldson ! ... lt was 1 of the NASTIEST , MOST VICIOUS ln Game Dunks , i EVER SEEN ! ... Worthy was a Very Unique Player ... l remember on defense sometimes they would match him up on scoring guards , UN-HEARD OF At The Time ! ... When he 1st came into the league , he couldnt shoot that good ... He worked on it , & at the end of his career , he became proficient from 3pt ...Which with all his moves rendered him virtually UN-GUARDABLE , HE WAS A NIGHTMARE for the opposition ! ... When you brought up that 'Spin-Move' , a flood of memories took me back ... to the GREATEST ERA OF BASKETBALL THERE EVER HAS BEEN ! ... THANKS , MY FRIEND 👊
His Achilles heel / kryptonite was the Houston Rockets with Sampson and Olajuwon. His game was all about getting within 10 feet of the basket where those monsters patrolled. If Sampson would have stayed healthy Worthy would have been forced to reinvent his game a bit.
The Lakers were a very strong team when they had Magic, James and Kareem. And it's really amazing that all three of them have won the NBA Finals MVP. I miss the 80's NBA when the Lakers, Celtics, Sixers, Pistons and Bulls were in their prime.
Big Game James is one of my ALL TIME favorite players! When Showtime was happening, I was a Lakers fan, and my brother was a Celtics fan. When the Lakers played, I would scream and jump up and down, going out of my mind. My brother said, "why are you getting SOOOO amped up?" I told him that there will be many new champions in the future, but there will never be a team quite like this one. As of this moment, there has never been a Showtime team quite like this one, and Mr. Worthy was right in the middle of it. Peace.
Worthy had a diagonal move--almost like he was moving from one step-and-jump on a direct 45-degree angle toward the basket. I never saw anyone else do that. It wasn't just that he went up--he went LATERAL at the same time.
Great video giving James Worthy his due.. He was big and FAST.. One of the ways to beat the Lakers was to slow them down. Why was this important? Because Worthy was so FAST...Lakers were the fastest team. Magic was like a quarter back looking for the long bomb to Worthy or Kareem.. Great teams in the 80's. Great talent..
it's great to hear players of opposing teams talk about another player's strength. all NBA players always have something positive to say about each other's game/style despite playing against each other in their careers.
I was lucky to get to watch Worthy growing up. He always came up the biggest in the biggest games/moments. I remember countless times how he got The Forum crowd absolutely deafening and rocking with his fast break plays and big shots. He was a baller.
I remember going to the Forum as well. It was a place for gladiators it seems. The lighting put all of the attention on the game. James on the break was electrifying. Sometimes he would glide across the lane and in the air he'd hold up the ball and gently leave it on the rim. It was poetry. I think I liked those moves more than the dunks.
Thank you for this awesome video! Big Game James was my favorite player growing up. I don’t know of any current NBA players who can cover the court in a couple of strides besides Giannis.
So many young fans know that Jordan hit the winning shot in the NCAA Championship game against Georgetown. Unfortunately, most young fans NEVER have watched that game. Ewing was the top college freshman in that game, and Worthy was the most dominant player in that game with 28 points on 13 of 17 shooting from the field. That's amazing given he was going against one of the greatest college centers of all-time (Ewing).
Thank you for this video. He should've been on the Dream Team in 1992... I mean, Scottie Pippen was two years into being the Scottie Pippen that we all know as an all-time great, but Big Game James was a three-time champ at that point, a Finals MVP, had his 7th and final All-Star season in 91-92 while averaging 20, 6 and 5 in his first season without Magic (Pippen averaged 21, 8, and 6). Yes, Pippen was the champ, younger, and MJ's sidekick, but James had the better body of work at that time and, again, was coming off of an All-Star season. They're both "greats" now, but at that time, James was already considered as such, whilst Scottie was simply, in NBA marketing language of the time, "Fantastic".
During his college career, James Worthy was the most valuable player and I’m saying that over Michael Jordan . And I am a huge Michael Jordan fan. But I watch their entire college careers. Big game James always came through for Carolina. UNC
Well to be fair, Worthy was a junior when Jordan was a freshman. Worthy had already been playing for two years when Jordan joined the team. So of course he was further along. Both players were amazing.
Hey Sean another guy people forget about on the early Showtime Lakers is Jamaal Wilkes. He was a 4 time champ, Hall of Famer, 3x All Star, 2x All-Defense, and was rookie of the year for GSW even though he played the bulk of his career with L.A.
Sean! Appreciate the Laker love. Big Game is an excellent choice for a vid. Dude had one of the quickest first steps in NBA history. Those Statue of Liberty dunks on the fast break were a thing of beauty. McHale talks about it here but what people don't really think of was his outside shooting. Dude was buckets anywhere on the court from 18-feet in.
@@dkdebest wtf why come here and say that? Are you that insecure? Last I checked James Worthy won a lot of big games What has Wemby won? NCAA chip? Nba chip? Until then don’t mention Wemby
The Lakers with James Worthy were scary even when their opponents were up by 20 pts. I don’t know of any team that were that likely to go on a 15-20 minute run and and your lead just seemed to disappear.
I agree with you Sean. If worthy would’ve ended up on a bad team as the number one option he would’ve been averaging 25-30 ppg for his career and gotten a lot more clout. Plus, according to MJ, worthy was the only person to beat him in one on one back in their unc days. 😮
Prime Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey, Kevin Duckworth, Buck Williams and crew. I remember a western conference matchup with the Lakers one year and it was still the first half and Portland was getting run out of the building by the Lakers fast break... so we took a time out and as the camera pans over to the Blazer bench all you can see is the aforementioned Blazers just sitting on their chairs leaning all the way back and GASPING for air. That was the James Worthy effect. I still remember it to this day. Show Time Lakers would kill your conditioning by halftime and we had to see them 6-8 times a year not counting playoffs. Thank you for making this video btw just subbed.
James Worthy was known as the "fastest forward in the NBA". He's the fastest I've seen. He has this move posting up..when the ball touches his palm..he would would turn right away to the baseline and drive to the basket for a dunk.
I still don't think I've ever seen a forward with James Worthy's speed. The players said it all. He could run the break and fill lanes sure but what always shocked me was his post moves. He would get the ball in the post and this is in the 80's when there were 6 other guys in the paint already and he would spin on his man and dunk it before anyone could get near him or he would turn to the middle and put up a short jumper in a fraction of a second. The ball never stopped on the way up, he started his shooting motion as he was moving and the ball was gone before the defender could extend his arm up. And these shots would go in more often than not. Incredible.
Worthy had the touch. He was among the best players in the league when the league was at its best. Another player I wish would've had an injury free career. He deserved more peak years. James Worthy, in the unlikely chance you ever read this, know that I highly respect you and I'll always be grateful for what you brought to the game.
Big game James will never be forgoten by all the people that watched him hes another legend that would destroy todays players! His fast break tomahawk dunk was mind blowing he could run the court all night!His first step was unstoppable!lightning!
Im so glad to find this video and see you did a Video on Worthy. I grew up just up the road from UNC and lived in winston slaem area most of my life before moving to Ohio a few years ago. I remember Worthy in college and the Pros....loved him....the guy was never given as much hype or attention as he deserved as a player. Though Worthy won a National Championship at UNC he was forced to share the stardom during that season with super freshmen Sam Perkins and Michael Jordan. Worthy was great his first two years at Carolina but also was never given his due truly there because Carolina under Dean Smith always had powerhouse teams and most of the roster was full of high school all- americans. In college Worthy was a like like Jordan in that both players it was obvious were athletic and talented but because of Dean Smith's strict team concept you never really knew just how good either of those guys could be until they got to the Pro's. In the NBA Worthy was always the 3rd guy the guy who never got his due even though he hoestly was a far superior defender than Magic ever was and than Kareem was in the later stages of his career. If Worthy had been drafted by a rebuilding team like Jordan was when he got taken by the Bulls then I am positive Worthy would have put up numbers much like that of an Alex English or Adrian Dantley in those days and easily averaged over 20 points a game every single season of his career. The thing was Worthy never got the ball like that with the Lakers because they had Kareem who was still pumping in the points early in Worthy's career and then there was Magic who ran the show as the point guard that could also score the ball. The Lakers didnt really begin to look to Worthy as a main scoring option until his 3rd year or so and even as Kareem aged in the late 80s and was no longer as big a scorer, Worthy was often the 3rd player mentioned by fans when they talked about the Lakers behind Kareem and Magic. If he was even mentioned then. But if it was not for Worthy being so talented on both ends of the court especially on Defense guarding the other teams best players always. The Lakers probably dont win all those titles during Worthys career. Worthy was impossible to stop in his prime and one of my favorite players of all time.
I met Big Game James back in 1997 and he was such a pleasant and humble man and really tall and big I wondered he could be so quick. Yes he was really so underrated.
It was like he could be down the court in 3 steps. Never seen anyone cover so much ground so quickly. Magic was the brains behind Showtime...Worthy was its body.
AS a kid, James Worthy was my sports idol. He is the one I wanted to emulate when I played. Excellent fast break player, very balanced player in half court play inside and outside. AC Green was as well on that team
Once Worthy had the ball on the baseline and held the ball away from the defender, it was over. You couldn't stop him going to the rim. Magic on the break with Cooper and Worthy on each of the wings, was a problem.
When contrary team was scoring .... James Worthy was already running to the other end for the fastbreak. I think Magic to Worthy pass play was clocked in 2 or 3 seconds for fastbreaks at one point of time. He was unstoppable. For me that was really show time.
I used to get in wonderful arguments with my friends about James Worthy, my claim was that he's the best player EVER to have played the game. Not a showman, just the best.
i liked seeing how rodman and worthy were so complimentary of each other. and its factual...rodman said worthy was the quickest player off the ball he had seen...worthy said dennis was the best athlete he played against. (and he knew how to get in your head. dennis would squeeze your butt. and for 3 quarters you would be lookin at this guy thinking...what is wrong with him?)
As a Detroit Piston fan I hated him because he gave us the business... Because he was so quick that they cannot stop him... John salley or Rick Mahorn... The only one gave him problems was Dennis Rodman...
I was raised to absolutely hate the Lakers. That said James Worthy was quite possibly the most underrated player I have ever seen in my lifetime. Everyone talks Magic and Kareem, but I promise you without Worthy there would be no rings back then.
Great looking video I loved his first step I used to try to play like him marvelous player at times he was not the lakers leading scorer in the regular season however he lead them in scoring in the playoffs often
The Worthy Express! The real greatness in Worthy was that he was able to put team first even know he could’ve tried to do much more…he knew his lane and filled that lane with the best of all time. Some say Lakers should’ve drafted Dominique…we all love the Human Highlight Film, but I don’t think his chemistry would’ve meshed well with Kareem, Magic and the Lakers.
James Worthy feels a little bit similar to Klay Thompson. They both have more famous teammates but they both played at the highest level in the biggest games. Glad Worthy is getting some recognition.
Hello Ryan. That's a very interesting comparison. One I'll have to think about a little longer. They had different games, but of course it's a different game now and different roles they have to fit. But it's a cool comment and I too am glad to see Worthy get his due. The NBA would be much poorer without Worthy. Obviously I really like Klay too :)
People watch video of the Showtime Lakers, seeing Magic dribble the ball, make some moves, and make a creative pass leading to a fast bucket. We also celebrate Magic's ability to know where everyone is on the court. What we forget is that the person on the receiving end of those highlight reel passes, more than anyone, was Worthy. Magic didn't have to worry about where James was on the court, he would be where he was supposed to be. We rightly celebrate the pass-receive duo of Stockton and Malone. While people may think the Showtime Lakers' equivalent was Magic and Kareem, it really was Magic and James.
Big Game was the most graceful Laker, he didn't have kobe s agility but quick first step, spin moves,up and unders, pump fakes,finger rolls, and he would dunk on you off 1 leg.....Him and Byron's speed was crucial to that showtime fastbreak....#RipChic
No. Trust me.. he got through credit he deserved when he played. The younger generations don't know him because the big networks only talk about the main star of the teams like jordan,, magic,bird etc. It's alot of players that were really good that never get talked about now but received their flowers during their playing days
The third best guy on your roster is so pivotal. Does the guy compliment your first and second best players? Does he leverage your 1 & 2's strengths? Does he make up for whatever deficiencies your 1&2 have? Can he thrive/help his team win without getting a lot of shot attempts? When he does get a lot of shot attempts. can he shoulder the scoring load when your 1 & 2 are injured, having a bad shooting night, or in foul trouble? On that note, can he anchor the second unit when your 1 and/or 2 are resting? For James Worthy it was yes to all of them. He was great on the fast break and in half court sets with Magic because he was so good at catching and finishing all in one quick and fluid motion. Magic didn't have a lot of lateral quickness but that wasn't a problem because Worthy could play on ball defense against any athletic wing and his quickness and high basketball IQ made him a great team defender. Kareem, late in his career was not going to run the floor hard very often in order to save his energy for post play, defense and rebounding; Worthy would run the floor hard at all times, get rebounds in the paint, score in the post, that let Kareem save even more energy. James Worthy did need lot of shot attempts to be an effective scorer and his D, rebounding, and passing let him make a huge impact without scoring a lot. And then it'd be a big game and Magic is playing hurt so Worthy comes out and have a 36-16-10 triple double. If called upon, Worthy could anchor the second unit although he didn't have to do so very often because Michael Cooper was such a good 6th man. It's important to have a lot of talent but to be a dynasty, those players need to be able to compliment each other and have a team that is greater than the sum of it parts.
James Worthy was a hell of a player and Cooper was funny as hell in this video talking about Worthy sweating all over the ball😆. I did not know the Lakers chose Worthy over Dominique Wilkins and I understand it since Worthy was so fundamentally sound but a What If situation enters my mind thinking about Dominique on that team with Magic and Kareem😲.
Big Game James will always be my favorite player, dude is speed, power, and grace on the floor. I LOVED watching the LAKERS in the 80's, basketball was great fun to play and watch. My friends called me one time to go do... doesn't matter, watching the LAKERS, I'll catch you guys tomorrow! ;}
Love his game...lightening first step that was explosive.,biggest hands since Dr. J, a eagle soaring on the break,clutch as they come.Big game James, enough said! I drop the mic!
So glad you did this vid. Most Laker fans know about how Worthy single-handedly won game #7 vs. Detroit in 1988 finals: 44 mins, 15-22 (that's 68% shooting in a game 7! Legendary!), 36 pts, 16 reb, 10 ast. What fans don't know about Worthy is his fg%. In his first 9 years, he never shot LESS than 52% (while averaging about 20 ppg too). That's LBJ level stuff. Lastly, "Big Game James" really started in 1982. NCAA Final vs. Georgetown, people remember Jordan's jumper to put UNC ahead with 15 secs left, but Worthy led all scorers with 28 pts on 13-17 shooting. Incredible player.
No. He's better..he doesn't buckle under pressure.
@@charlesaaronte9105 better than LeBron yea
I'd take worthy over LeBron all day
Hell, yeah.
Worthy was also a COMPLETE basketball player,he could score/shoot,pass the ball and defend different players one-on-one ( this is a dig at Kobe,didn't need to shoot the ball 30 times a game )
It’s crazy to me that Worthy isn’t remembered or respected more. That guy was instrumental in Lakers chip dubs in the 80s. Great player, very fun to watch!
Never mind the Lakers he carried Jordan in North Carolina
Him and Magic together one of the greatest Duos and the rest of that bunch
He played for lakers and was 3rd or 4th option
Could have been #1 option at his position on most teams in the NBA during the time he played
Must not have watched basketball in the 80s
I agree!! As a Celtics fan, I feared Worthy the most!! He was clutch late in the game! And Just like Dennis Johnson, the late great DJ!! Bird said on more than one occasion that they couldn't have won without DJ and he was the best teammate he ever had and made him a better player!!
He’s NEVER overlooked by the Lakers faithful! Thank you so much for another great video!
I remember back in the day watching the road games on KCAL 9. If it was a close game but James scored 28 or 30 we won. He would put the team on his back. The opposition could not stop him. What a player.
Never
Truth! Laker fan for life!
As a Celtic fan, Worthy was the one I feared. You never knew when he'd take the shot and he was clutch when they needed that basket. The guys you love to hate!!! Rivalries are the best in sports and it's a downright shame our kids are not experiencing what we had!!
I as a longtime Lakers fan got to see Worthy play at the Forum from '85 to '91; he was a very exciting player especially on fast breaks. I even once got to see your Celtics play at the old Boston Garden in early 1988 vs Charles Barkley and the Sixers; that was quite an experience that I will never forget. Your right about the 80's Lakers-Celtics rivalry was the greatest ever; they'll never be anything like that again. Great memories though.
I respect that, felt the same about Bird. We hated him in LA but you can’t deny the man was a walking bucket but also had great vision, passing ability, etc. Grew to hate him less and respect him more.
@@obatron1 Same here, I hated him back then but I feared him cause he was so clutch and could make that big bucket anytime. I respected his toughness! I remember when he called his own team sissies after a Finals loss to the Lakers and also him throwing the ball at Laimbeer. Those were classic moments, as well as the trash talk was funny.
Those were the best times, I know you feared James and I feared Bird and Mchale as well.
I felt the same about Larry. After Magic, he was my favorite player. I would always get the LA Times to read the Laker and Celtic box scores.
He's pivotal to the Lakers winning those championships in the eighties. I'm glad that he played for them. One of the greatest players to ever do it. He gets over looked a lot and that's not right.
I remember the 1984 Finals, Game 2. James Worthy threw the ball to Gerald Henderson. I wish the Lakers selected 'Nique in that draft instead of Worthy.
@@overratedgm5713Game2 is inconsequential in a 7 game series, don’t ya know?
@@clu4u No, the Lakers won Game 1 in Boston, and if Worthy doesn't make that bad pass in Game 2, they are up 2-0 going back to LA. All the Lakers have to do is inbound the ball and get it to the front court, and they win. Since they lost the series in 7 games, that one game was the difference.
@SEZWAH I agree with you, however Scott got hurt as well. Also, the Lakers were too cheap to re-sign Michael Cooper, I think he would have been the difference maker.
@@overratedgm5713 dunno. I’m a Laker fan and think they’re weren’t hungry anymore by 91. Even with Coop, I really think they would’ve needed a better coach than Dunnleavy who was clearly outcoached that season. Couldn’t even adjust to a full court press by Pippen. Riley would simply have another ball handler and just put Magic in the post when Detroit tried that.
I used to say James had the quickest first step in the league back then, especially turning around going base line.
He was arguably the best fast-break player ever. His combination of speed, athleticism and basketball IQ made him deadly when he filled the lanes. It’s true that guys like Chambers and Wilkins would’ve won titles if they had been there, instead of James, but I don’t think it would’ve been at quite the same level of success, either. I think Worthy’s overall impact was greater.
@@smoothALOE Worthy was always locked into the game. Notice every thought is to get the ball in the basket as quickly as possible.
He was a quiet guy playing on a team with Magic and Kareem. FACTS... no one could be more FLASHY than Magic and no one could be more QUIET and brooding than Kareem. So he was stuck in no-mans-land. Awesome player than was blazing fast and could spin off the defender faster than anybody. Respect "BIG game James"
Absolutely 💯
Dudes that know their bball know he was a certified Gun.. one of the most underappreciated players of all time.
Him and Bernard king are the most underrated small forwards of all time for my money I rate them a head of lebrom Jame
Fuc credit ,,,cash only
He won that Finals MVP with Rodman guarding him. That tells you how good he was.
Prime badboys with no answer
In my hood on southside playgrounds of Chicago, when Worthy was at North Carolina we all called him, " Da Word." Then once he got to the league he played behind the great Silk Wilk. But when he became a starter and started taken over games,then playoff series and became finals MVP, he became known as, " Big Game James." One of the craziest things about his game,he would drag his leg at times as if he had an injury. But once you saw him fly out on the break, or be a blur on one of his many post moves,you knew he was abnormal and one of the all time greats hands down.
The greatest thing about Worthy is despite having absolute top level talent he was no ego clown. He approached the game like a guy who barely made the team.
Very well said ❣️
I totally agree . I was always amazed by Worthys speed. Underrated player . Loved the Laker/Celtic rivalry back in the day.
James Worthy was one of my favorite players growing up! Another thing that doesn't get mentioned is that James Worthy every now and then could stick the 3! Thanks for the memories dear James and God bless you and your loved ones!
Big James was my favorite basketball play many great memories watching him play in my youth so glad I got to see this time in basketball.
Don't forget that spin move and layup was with either hand. It didn't matter what block or what side of the lane he was on.
Must of been a Carolina thing with the spin, some said Jordan was the quickest, as a Celtics fan back then I'd always so no, James is the quickest, hell, we all knew it was coming but he still went by so many defenders.
If you ever get a chance , try to find the Lakers playoff game at dallas , i believe it was '88' gm3 or 4 ... Worthy was on the wing with the ball in a half-court set ... his old teammate sam perkins was guarding him , when it looked like he was headed for the baseline ... & all of a sudden , he did that SPIN-MOVE you were talking about ... he spun back inside & DUNKED over-top of sam & either roy tarpley or james donaldson ! ... lt was 1 of the NASTIEST , MOST VICIOUS ln Game Dunks , i EVER SEEN ! ... Worthy was a Very Unique Player ... l remember on defense sometimes they would match him up on scoring guards , UN-HEARD OF At The Time ! ... When he 1st came into the league , he couldnt shoot that good ... He worked on it , & at the end of his career , he became proficient from 3pt ...Which with all his moves rendered him virtually UN-GUARDABLE , HE WAS A NIGHTMARE for the opposition ! ... When you brought up that 'Spin-Move' , a flood of memories took me back ... to the GREATEST ERA OF BASKETBALL THERE EVER HAS BEEN ! ... THANKS , MY FRIEND 👊
His Achilles heel / kryptonite was the Houston Rockets with Sampson and Olajuwon. His game was all about getting within 10 feet of the basket where those monsters patrolled. If Sampson would have stayed healthy Worthy would have been forced to reinvent his game a bit.
James Worthy. Wow, what a delight to see him play. Isiah Thomas, you tell the stories with such joy...thank you.
Great to hear from so many of Worthy's opponents how he was so outstanding! Thank you!
The Lakers were a very strong team when they had Magic, James and Kareem.
And it's really amazing that all three of them have won the NBA Finals MVP.
I miss the 80's NBA when the Lakers, Celtics, Sixers, Pistons and Bulls were in their prime.
Man oh man to I agree. I couldn't wait when I knew the Lakers and Celtics were playing each other.
that 1987 Lakers team mighta been the most complete team ever.
Ide. Say that the Bulls team we're in their prime in 1991 or 1993.
You hit the nail right on the head. Worthy had a very unique style of play. Certified BEAST.
Big Game James is one of my ALL TIME favorite players! When Showtime was happening, I was a Lakers fan, and my brother was a Celtics fan. When the Lakers played, I would scream and jump up and down, going out of my mind. My brother said, "why are you getting SOOOO amped up?" I told him that there will be many new champions in the future, but there will never be a team quite like this one. As of this moment, there has never been a Showtime team quite like this one, and Mr. Worthy was right in the middle of it. Peace.
One of the best finishers of all time. That first step along the baseline oooof ⚡
Worthy had a diagonal move--almost like he was moving from one step-and-jump on a direct 45-degree angle toward the basket. I never saw anyone else do that. It wasn't just that he went up--he went LATERAL at the same time.
Great video giving James Worthy his due.. He was big and FAST.. One of the ways to beat the Lakers was to slow them down. Why was this important? Because Worthy was so FAST...Lakers were the fastest team. Magic was like a quarter back looking for the long bomb to Worthy or Kareem.. Great teams in the 80's. Great talent..
it's great to hear players of opposing teams talk about another player's strength. all NBA players always have something positive to say about each other's game/style despite playing against each other in their careers.
James Worthy I salute you. You changed the game with you footwork , spins and skills. Lightening quick. I will never forget how bad he was bro.
Baddest man on the wing on a fast break,always finished with authority.Big game James was no joke.
Better yet, he finished with certainty
True,I lightweight believe Dominique Wilkins was better. He just didn't have the squad.
I was lucky to get to watch Worthy growing up. He always came up the biggest in the biggest games/moments. I remember countless times how he got The Forum crowd absolutely deafening and rocking with his fast break plays and big shots. He was a baller.
I remember going to the Forum as well. It was a place for gladiators it seems. The lighting put all of the attention on the game. James on the break was electrifying. Sometimes he would glide across the lane and in the air he'd hold up the ball and gently leave it on the rim. It was poetry. I think I liked those moves more than the dunks.
@@monica93304 There was something special about the Forum you could just feel the energy and the vibe if felt intimate and you felt a sense of Unity.
@@rohaun8196 AGREED!
So good to c Worthy get some well overdue recognition! Great video!!
Thank you for this awesome video! Big Game James was my favorite player growing up. I don’t know of any current NBA players who can cover the court in a couple of strides besides Giannis.
The 80’s Lakers fast break was a thing to behold and Big Game James was a huge part of that.
So underrated in the shadow of Kareem n Magic. Worthy is a great player standing alone ❤
Thanks for covering Worthy. I agree he often doesn't get the credit he deserves.
So many young fans know that Jordan hit the winning shot in the NCAA Championship game against Georgetown. Unfortunately, most young fans NEVER have watched that game. Ewing was the top college freshman in that game, and Worthy was the most dominant player in that game with 28 points on 13 of 17 shooting from the field. That's amazing given he was going against one of the greatest college centers of all-time (Ewing).
I've said the same thing as you do for years. I am glad that you highlighted what we both already know. Worthy was no joke.
Thank you for this video. He should've been on the Dream Team in 1992... I mean, Scottie Pippen was two years into being the Scottie Pippen that we all know as an all-time great, but Big Game James was a three-time champ at that point, a Finals MVP, had his 7th and final All-Star season in 91-92 while averaging 20, 6 and 5 in his first season without Magic (Pippen averaged 21, 8, and 6). Yes, Pippen was the champ, younger, and MJ's sidekick, but James had the better body of work at that time and, again, was coming off of an All-Star season. They're both "greats" now, but at that time, James was already considered as such, whilst Scottie was simply, in NBA marketing language of the time, "Fantastic".
Justice and respect for James Worthy. He could easily have been the superstar of any team. His speed could overwhelm any era of NBA basketball.
He had the quickes first step of any big men in the post I've ever seen. By far
He was one of my fav player. Sensational. He performed the spin move best.
Big Game James! This guy was on another level come finals time! Not many have such a stats differential from reg to playoffs!
During his college career, James Worthy was the most valuable player and I’m saying that over Michael Jordan . And I am a huge Michael Jordan fan. But I watch their entire college careers. Big game James always came through for Carolina. UNC
Well to be fair, Worthy was a junior when Jordan was a freshman. Worthy had already been playing for two years when Jordan joined the team. So of course he was further along. Both players were amazing.
@@Ken5244 good point ..
Worthy was the Man!!! I was very quick and I added his post action to my game.
Hey Sean another guy people forget about on the early Showtime Lakers is Jamaal Wilkes. He was a 4 time champ, Hall of Famer, 3x All Star, 2x All-Defense, and was rookie of the year for GSW even though he played the bulk of his career with L.A.
Sean! Appreciate the Laker love. Big Game is an excellent choice for a vid. Dude had one of the quickest first steps in NBA history. Those Statue of Liberty dunks on the fast break were a thing of beauty. McHale talks about it here but what people don't really think of was his outside shooting. Dude was buckets anywhere on the court from 18-feet in.
Wemby is better
@@dkdebest HAHAHA!!!! Time will tell. These guys play completely different positions, but whatever.
@@dkdebest wtf why come here and say that? Are you that insecure? Last I checked James Worthy won a lot of big games
What has Wemby won? NCAA chip? Nba chip? Until then don’t mention Wemby
@@oldmansportsog2514 Listen old man, the game has evolved for the better we now have super athletes as bench players that can beat worthy easy.
The Lakers with James Worthy were scary even when their opponents were up by 20 pts. I don’t know of any team that were that likely to go on a 15-20 minute run and and your lead just seemed to disappear.
Watch his first step... shit was and still is one of the best I've seen...💯💯💯
I loved this video. Worthy was amazing and glad you finally gave the man a video and the props
I agree with you Sean. If worthy would’ve ended up on a bad team as the number one option he would’ve been averaging 25-30 ppg for his career and gotten a lot more clout. Plus, according to MJ, worthy was the only person to beat him in one on one back in their unc days. 😮
Props 2 him 4 believing n the system
As a life long Lakers fan I remember watching all his big moments.
Big Game James is one of my ALL TIME favorite players!
Oh how I miss the showtime lakers
I miss the old NBA. The euro step made me quit watching.
Prime Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey, Kevin Duckworth, Buck Williams and crew. I remember a western conference matchup with the Lakers one year and it was still the first half and Portland was getting run out of the building by the Lakers fast break... so we took a time out and as the camera pans over to the Blazer bench all you can see is the aforementioned Blazers just sitting on their chairs leaning all the way back and GASPING for air. That was the James Worthy effect. I still remember it to this day. Show Time Lakers would kill your conditioning by halftime and we had to see them 6-8 times a year not counting playoffs. Thank you for making this video btw just subbed.
Agree 100%! Loved watching WORTHY WITH HIS TRADEMARK NEW BALANCE!
I have to agree. His spin slam! was the quickest move I've ever seen. I miss Chick Hearn.
James Worthy was known as the "fastest forward in the NBA". He's the fastest I've seen. He has this move posting up..when the ball touches his palm..he would would turn right away to the baseline and drive to the basket for a dunk.
I still don't think I've ever seen a forward with James Worthy's speed. The players said it all. He could run the break and fill lanes sure but what always shocked me was his post moves. He would get the ball in the post and this is in the 80's when there were 6 other guys in the paint already and he would spin on his man and dunk it before anyone could get near him or he would turn to the middle and put up a short jumper in a fraction of a second. The ball never stopped on the way up, he started his shooting motion as he was moving and the ball was gone before the defender could extend his arm up. And these shots would go in more often than not. Incredible.
Watching JW in action was mesmerizing. Lightning speed!
He was unreal.
Magic wouldn't be Magic without this man.
Worthy had the touch. He was among the best players in the league when the league was at its best. Another player I wish would've had an injury free career. He deserved more peak years. James Worthy, in the unlikely chance you ever read this, know that I highly respect you and I'll always be grateful for what you brought to the game.
I love James Worthy he was quick and he recognizes mismatches he's hard to guard. He's a terrific player and with Magic Johnson their phenomenal.
That little drop step he did backing people down at the post...
Big game James will never be forgoten by all the people that watched him hes another legend that would destroy todays players! His fast break tomahawk dunk was mind blowing he could run the court all night!His first step was unstoppable!lightning!
Im so glad to find this video and see you did a Video on Worthy. I grew up just up the road from UNC and lived in winston slaem area most of my life before moving to Ohio a few years ago. I remember Worthy in college and the Pros....loved him....the guy was never given as much hype or attention as he deserved as a player. Though Worthy won a National Championship at UNC he was forced to share the stardom during that season with super freshmen Sam Perkins and Michael Jordan. Worthy was great his first two years at Carolina but also was never given his due truly there because Carolina under Dean Smith always had powerhouse teams and most of the roster was full of high school all- americans. In college Worthy was a like like Jordan in that both players it was obvious were athletic and talented but because of Dean Smith's strict team concept you never really knew just how good either of those guys could be until they got to the Pro's. In the NBA Worthy was always the 3rd guy the guy who never got his due even though he hoestly was a far superior defender than Magic ever was and than Kareem was in the later stages of his career. If Worthy had been drafted by a rebuilding team like Jordan was when he got taken by the Bulls then I am positive Worthy would have put up numbers much like that of an Alex English or Adrian Dantley in those days and easily averaged over 20 points a game every single season of his career. The thing was Worthy never got the ball like that with the Lakers because they had Kareem who was still pumping in the points early in Worthy's career and then there was Magic who ran the show as the point guard that could also score the ball. The Lakers didnt really begin to look to Worthy as a main scoring option until his 3rd year or so and even as Kareem aged in the late 80s and was no longer as big a scorer, Worthy was often the 3rd player mentioned by fans when they talked about the Lakers behind Kareem and Magic. If he was even mentioned then. But if it was not for Worthy being so talented on both ends of the court especially on Defense guarding the other teams best players always. The Lakers probably dont win all those titles during Worthys career. Worthy was impossible to stop in his prime and one of my favorite players of all time.
I met Big Game James back in 1997 and he was such a pleasant and humble man and really tall and big I wondered he could be so quick. Yes he was really so underrated.
Had we not GIFTED Boston that series back in 1984, worthy was walking away with that MVP! I'm still haunted by that series today😮
I hate when LeBron is added to greatest Lakers lists but people forget Worthy. One of my favorite players growing up.
You hate , other people's lists.. ?? I hope you're dwelling is rubber.
@@PlanetOfTheAztecs I think you should learn to read and worry about your own house
@@kmack311 oh OK, you're just dramatic.. never mind
Worthy and Pau Gasol are better Lakers than LeBron
@@clevisbernier8973 True. Easily true.
It was like he could be down the court in 3 steps. Never seen anyone cover so much ground so quickly. Magic was the brains behind Showtime...Worthy was its body.
AS a kid, James Worthy was my sports idol. He is the one I wanted to emulate when I played. Excellent fast break player, very balanced player in half court play inside and outside. AC Green was as well on that team
Worthy was a joy to watch. Iaiah said it best. James was a top 20 player.
Once Worthy had the ball on the baseline and held the ball away from the defender, it was over. You couldn't stop him going to the rim. Magic on the break with Cooper and Worthy on each of the wings, was a problem.
Longtime lakers fan, there ought to be a statue of that outside. Call it "What were you thinking?" or "Where is your help?"
When contrary team was scoring .... James Worthy was already running to the other end for the fastbreak. I think Magic to Worthy pass play was clocked in 2 or 3 seconds for fastbreaks at one point of time. He was unstoppable. For me that was really show time.
Worthy was sooooo smooth on the court too. Nothing looks forced
I used to get in wonderful arguments with my friends about James Worthy, my claim was that he's the best player EVER to have played the game. Not a showman, just the best.
i liked seeing how rodman and worthy were so complimentary of each other. and its factual...rodman said worthy was the quickest player off the ball he had seen...worthy said dennis was the best athlete he played against. (and he knew how to get in your head. dennis would squeeze your butt. and for 3 quarters you would be lookin at this guy thinking...what is wrong with him?)
As a Detroit Piston fan I hated him because he gave us the business... Because he was so quick that they cannot stop him... John salley or Rick Mahorn... The only one gave him problems was Dennis Rodman...
Great memories being a Bad Boys fan back then
That baseline spin is engraved in my mind
I was raised to absolutely hate the Lakers. That said James Worthy was quite possibly the most underrated player I have ever seen in my lifetime. Everyone talks Magic and Kareem, but I promise you without Worthy there would be no rings back then.
Great looking video I loved his first step I used to try to play like him marvelous player at times he was not the lakers leading scorer in the regular season however he lead them in scoring in the playoffs often
Still considered the greatest NBA finals performance of all time.
Man gotta love Isaiah, he gives entertaining and exact analysis. Worthy was impossible to guard.
The quickest forward ever that first step to the basket no one could keep up with him. If you blinked he was gone....
Reminds me of Connie Hawkins.
Quick spin to the baseline. And tomahawk dunk. I think he had a beard at 15.
These videos aren't long enough!! Your research is 🔥🔥🔥
The Worthy Express! The real greatness in Worthy was that he was able to put team first even know he could’ve tried to do much more…he knew his lane and filled that lane with the best of all time.
Some say Lakers should’ve drafted Dominique…we all love the Human Highlight Film, but I don’t think his chemistry would’ve meshed well with Kareem, Magic and the Lakers.
I agree with your Assessment on James Worthy.....Jordan did not win that Championship at NC without Worthy as well imho! Great video yo!
Humble guy not under Los Angeles spotlight what a quickness when he moves great finisher a great player thank you James
Wasn't a Laker fan, but I ALWAYS loved Worthy. Amazing first step. That UNC team with he and young Jordan was sick.
James Worthy feels a little bit similar to Klay Thompson. They both have more famous teammates but they both played at the highest level in the biggest games. Glad Worthy is getting some recognition.
Hello Ryan. That's a very interesting comparison. One I'll have to think about a little longer. They had different games, but of course it's a different game now and different roles they have to fit. But it's a cool comment and I too am glad to see Worthy get his due. The NBA would be much poorer without Worthy. Obviously I really like Klay too :)
Loved this!
People watch video of the Showtime Lakers, seeing Magic dribble the ball, make some moves, and make a creative pass leading to a fast bucket. We also celebrate Magic's ability to know where everyone is on the court. What we forget is that the person on the receiving end of those highlight reel passes, more than anyone, was Worthy. Magic didn't have to worry about where James was on the court, he would be where he was supposed to be.
We rightly celebrate the pass-receive duo of Stockton and Malone. While people may think the Showtime Lakers' equivalent was Magic and Kareem, it really was Magic and James.
Big Game was the most graceful Laker, he didn't have kobe s agility but quick first step, spin moves,up and unders, pump fakes,finger rolls, and he would dunk on you off 1 leg.....Him and Byron's speed was crucial to that showtime fastbreak....#RipChic
Dawg my favorite. Big game James! From Carolina to LA.
No. Trust me.. he got through credit he deserved when he played. The younger generations don't know him because the big networks only talk about the main star of the teams like jordan,, magic,bird etc. It's alot of players that were really good that never get talked about now but received their flowers during their playing days
I've been watching you for a long time bro. I appreciate your content and I'm glad you're still doing your thing
Big game James, now we talking here!
The third best guy on your roster is so pivotal. Does the guy compliment your first and second best players? Does he leverage your 1 & 2's strengths? Does he make up for whatever deficiencies your 1&2 have? Can he thrive/help his team win without getting a lot of shot attempts? When he does get a lot of shot attempts. can he shoulder the scoring load when your 1 & 2 are injured, having a bad shooting night, or in foul trouble? On that note, can he anchor the second unit when your 1 and/or 2 are resting?
For James Worthy it was yes to all of them.
He was great on the fast break and in half court sets with Magic because he was so good at catching and finishing all in one quick and fluid motion. Magic didn't have a lot of lateral quickness but that wasn't a problem because Worthy could play on ball defense against any athletic wing and his quickness and high basketball IQ made him a great team defender. Kareem, late in his career was not going to run the floor hard very often in order to save his energy for post play, defense and rebounding; Worthy would run the floor hard at all times, get rebounds in the paint, score in the post, that let Kareem save even more energy.
James Worthy did need lot of shot attempts to be an effective scorer and his D, rebounding, and passing let him make a huge impact without scoring a lot. And then it'd be a big game and Magic is playing hurt so Worthy comes out and have a 36-16-10 triple double. If called upon, Worthy could anchor the second unit although he didn't have to do so very often because Michael Cooper was such a good 6th man.
It's important to have a lot of talent but to be a dynasty, those players need to be able to compliment each other and have a team that is greater than the sum of it parts.
James Worthy was a hell of a player and Cooper was funny as hell in this video talking about Worthy sweating all over the ball😆. I did not know the Lakers chose Worthy over Dominique Wilkins and I understand it since Worthy was so fundamentally sound but a What If situation enters my mind thinking about Dominique on that team with Magic and Kareem😲.
1 of my all time favorite players
Big Game James will always be my favorite player, dude is speed, power, and grace on the floor. I LOVED watching the LAKERS in the 80's, basketball was great fun to play and watch. My friends called me one time to go do... doesn't matter, watching the LAKERS, I'll catch you guys tomorrow! ;}
Great video..quickest first step ever!
Great player!!!! So damn humble.
Love his game...lightening first step that was explosive.,biggest hands since Dr. J, a eagle soaring on the break,clutch as they come.Big game James, enough said! I drop the mic!
James was fun to watch. Also from right here in NC!!❤