James Worthy is a former American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a seven-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion. Worthy was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003 and was named one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players in 1996. He was also a member of the 1992 US Olympic “Dream Team”.
Early Life
James Worthy was born in Gastonia, North Carolina, on February 27, 1961. He was the middle child of five siblings. Worthy attended Ashbrook High School in Gastonia and was a standout on the school’s basketball team. He was named a McDonald’s All-American and was the MVP of the 1979 McDonald’s All-American Game.
After high school, Worthy attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a member of the school’s basketball team, the Tar Heels. During his time at UNC, he was named a Consensus All-American twice and was named the National College Player of the Year in 1982.
Professional Career
In 1982, Worthy was selected with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a key member of the team’s “Showtime” era, which won three NBA championships. During his time with the Lakers, Worthy was named to the All-Star team seven times, and was named the MVP of the 1988 NBA Finals.
Worthy retired from the NBA in 1994 after 12 seasons with the Lakers. He finished his career with career averages of 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
In addition to his NBA career, Worthy also played for the US Olympic team in 1992. He helped lead the team to a gold medal, and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
James Worthy is one of the most accomplished players in NBA history. He was a seven-time All-Star, three-time NBA champion, and was named one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players. He was also a member of the 1992 US Olympic “Dream Team”, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
