James A. Worthy

Enshrined 2003
Born: February 27, 1961
Gastonia, NC

James Worthy, known as "Big Game James," was at his best in the clutch and when the game was on the line. A 6-foot-9, 225 pound forward, Worthy filled the lane for 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. Running the floor with speed and agility, he often finished a play with a swooping one-handed dunk. In the low-post, the versatile Worthy had an assortment of offensive moves that made him an unstoppable force and a player who averaged between 17.6 points and 21.4 points for eight straight seasons. He was the ideal player for the Laker running game and post-up offensive style. Worthy starred on the 1982 NCAA title team at North Carolina and was named MVP of the Final Four. As the number one pick in the 1982 NBA draft, he spearheaded the Lakers to championships in 1985, 1987 and 1988, and a total of seven NBA Finals appearances.