Los Angeles Lakers: Did ESPN’s all-time NBA ranking get it right?
By Amaar Burton
James Worthy
ESPN rank: 51
James Worthy fit in so seamlessly and perfectly with the “Showtime” Lakers of the 1980s that people forget Worthy could’ve been a No. 1 option superstar leading his own team.
“Big Game James” was the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft coming out of North Carolina in 1982. The Lakers, who had just won a championship, happened to have that pick thanks to a previous trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
So the rich got richer, and Worthy found his niche as the third name in the Lakers hierarchy under Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He played his role and was rewarded with three championships, seven All-Star nods, two All-NBA selections and a Hall of Fame ring.
Worthy had moments where he stood out from the pack, most notably when he won 1988 Finals MVP after dropping 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 7 against the Pistons.
You have to wonder how things could’ve turned out for Worthy if he began his career on a different team (like the Cavs) as its designated franchise guy from Day 1.
Regarding his spot in the ESPN ranking, Worthy could’ve been a bit lower, perhaps in the late-50s. He was part of the NBA’s top 50 in ’96-97, but in the quarter-century since then, quite a few legends have come through that would’ve knocked Worthy further down that list if it was updated.