James Worthy

Worthy was born in Gastonia, North Carolina. His 21.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game during his senior season at Ashbrook High led the team to the state championship game. Named both a Parade Magazine and McDonald's All-American, he was selected to play in the 1979 McDonald's All-American Game, which featured future fellow Hall of Famers including Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, and Ralph Sampson.

After graduating from high school, Worthy attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. An immediate standout as a freshman, his debut was cut short near mid-season by a broken ankle. As a sophomore, he was a key member of UNC's 1981 NCAA runner-up team starring alongside Al Wood and Sam Perkins.

As a junior power forward Worthy was the leading scorer (15.6 points per game) of a Tar Heels NCAA championship team that featured one of the greatest collections of talent in collegiate basketball history,{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/worthy_bio.html |title=James Worthy Bio |work=NBA.com |access-date=June 28, 2014 |archive-date=July 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724135009/http://www.nba.com/history/players/worthy_bio.html |url-status=live }} including future NBA stars sophomore Sam Perkins and freshman Michael Jordan. A consensus first-team All-American,[http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/100708aab.html UNC Men's Basketball Media Guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917024418/http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/100708aab.html |date=September 17, 2009 }}, 2007, p. 95. Worthy was named co-winner of the Helms Foundation Player of the Year with Ralph Sampson of Virginia.{{cite web|title=James Worthy|publisher=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame|url=http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/james-worthy/|access-date=May 2, 2020|archive-date=May 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513185531/https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/james-worthy/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Moore|first=David Leon|title=Lakers 'settle' for Worthy as No.1 section in NBA draft|date=June 30, 1982|newspaper=The Sun|pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49911779/worthy-helms-foundation-player-othe-year/ C-4]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50060174/|access-date=May 2, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|quote=Worthy, who averaged 15.6 points last season, was named first-team all-America by just about everybody in the picking business and was named co-college player of the year (along with Sampson) by the First Interstate Bank Athletic Foundation (formerly the Helms Foundation).|archive-date=February 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210113118/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun/50060174/|url-status=live}} He dominated the 1982 championship game against the Georgetown Hoyas, sealing the Tar Heels' 63–62 victory by intercepting an inadvertent pass thrown by Hoya point guard Fred Brown with just seconds remaining. His 13–17 shooting, 28 point, 4 rebound finale capped a standout performance throughout the NCAA tournament, earning him its Most Outstanding Player award. A tip dunk in front of Patrick Ewing captioned "James Worthy slams the door on Georgetown" made the cover of Sports Illustrated.Finally, its Carolina. (1982) [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/8791/ Sports Illustrated] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103223636/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/8791/ |date=November 3, 2012 }}

In the wake of this success, Worthy elected to forgo his senior year and enter the NBA draft. He completed his degree later, via summer school. He is one of eight players to have their numbers retired by the Tar Heels. In 2002, Worthy was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team honoring the fifty greatest players in Atlantic Coast Conference history.{{Cite web |url=http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/092602aaa.html |title=ACC 50th Anniversary Men's Basketball Team |date=September 29, 2007 |website=TheACC.com |publisher=Atlantic Coast Conference |access-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102805/http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/092602aaa.html |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |url-status=dead}}

{{BLP sources section|date=October 2021}}

The Los Angeles Lakers had received the Cleveland Cavaliers' 1982 first-round draft pick in a 1979 exchange for Don Ford.{{cite news |title=No. 6: James Worthy |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://latimes.com/sports/lat-worthy_l48w27nc,0,3185978.photo#axzz3079On0TN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504232610/http://www.latimes.com/sports/lat-worthy_l48w27nc,0,3185978.photo#axzz3079On0TN |archive-date=May 4, 2014 |url-status=dead }} The Cavaliers finished with the NBA's worst record in the 1981–82 season, leaving a coin toss to decide whether they or the worst record runner-up San Diego Clippers would get the first overall pick in the upcoming draft. The Lakers won the flip, the first and only time a reigning NBA champion picked first overall. They chose Worthy over Dominique Wilkins and Terry Cummings.{{cite news|first=Scott|last=Howard-Cooper|title=Worthy Hangs It Up, and so Will the Lakers|date=November 11, 1994|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-11-sp-61508-story.html|access-date=April 10, 2022|archive-date=April 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410103046/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-11-sp-61508-story.html|url-status=live}}

The lanky small forward immediately made an impact as a rookie, averaging 13.4 points per game and shooting a Laker rookie record .579 field goal percentage. With his speed, dynamic ability to score with either hand, and dazzling play above the rim, Worthy thrived in the Lakers' high-octane "Showtime" offense. When not finishing fast breaks with his trademark Statue of Liberty dunks or swooping finger rolls, Worthy was also one of the best post players at his position, with a quick spin move off the low blocks and a deadly turnaround midrange jumpshot. His rookie year ended just when he was hitting his stride, breaking his leg on April 10, 1983, while landing improperly after trying to tap in a missed shot against the Phoenix Suns.{{YouTube|Iam086ysy1k|Worthy injures leg, April 10, 1983}} He was still named to the 1983 All-Rookie First Team but missed the rest of the season and playoffs, with the Lakers being swept 4–0 by the Philadelphia 76ers in the Finals.

Back and healthy for the opening of the 1983–84 season, Worthy began the season as a starter at power forward in place of Kurt Rambis, who was on the injured reserve list.{{cite news|first=Mitch|last=Chortkoff|title=Wilkes steps forward to start Lakers off|date=October 20, 1983|newspaper=The Daily Breeze|page=D1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze/166149456/|access-date=February 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|first=David|last=Moore|title=Lakers not playing as well without Nixon, Rambis|date=November 13, 1983|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|page=14B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/166149266/|access-date=February 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}} By December, Lakers head coach Pat Riley said that "it's becoming more and more obvious Worthy is not a legitimate power forward" due to his rebounding,{{cite news|first=Mitch|last=Chortkoff|title=Lakers give Scott his shot|date=December 4, 1983|newspaper=The Daily Breeze|page=D4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze/166149173/|access-date=February 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}} describing him as "a finesse guy who likes to get the ball and go with it".{{cite news|first=Roy S.|last=Johnson|title=The road back is bumpy for LA's Kupchak|date=December 24, 1983|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|page=7-C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer/166149495/|access-date=February 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}} The Los Angeles Times wrote that "he really is a small forward in a big forward's body."{{cite news|first=Thomas|last=Bonk|title=Wilkes Fighting For Job|date=October 6, 1984|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, p. 5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/166152773/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 20, 2025}} Worthy returned to the small forward position and came off the bench after Rambis recovered from his foot injuries.{{cite news|first=Mitch|last=Chortkoff|title=Kareem nears record as Wilkes falters|date=April 4, 1984|newspaper=The Daily Breeze|page=D1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze/166149661/|access-date=February 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|first=Mitch|last=Chortkoff|title=Worthy's work in playoffs may force Wilkes evaluation|date=June 3, 1984|newspaper=The Daily Breeze|page=D1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze/166150104/|access-date=February 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}} Riley cited Rambis's defense and rebounding. Worthy provided offense as a sixth man and was also prone to foul trouble.{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Greenberg|title=This Time, the Lakers Will Have Their Fine Young Forward for the Playoffs, and It's Already Made a Difference to Him|date=April 18, 1984|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, pp. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/166149934/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/166149915/ 9]|access-date=February 19, 2025|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/166149934/|via=Newspapers.com}} He developed into one of the league's top small forwards.{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Springer|title=The Lakers' Supporting Cast Stages Another Scintillating Performance|date=May 13, 1984|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, p. 11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/166150138/|access-date=February 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}} He remained as a reserve even when All-Star small forward Jamaal Wilkes was sidelined by a gastrointestinal illness during the playoffs, as Riley opted to start Michael Cooper instead. However, Worthy became a starter in the final game of the Western Conference finals against the Suns. He was essential for the Lakers during the 1984 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. Late in Game 2, Worthy made an errant cross-court pass that was stolen by Gerald Henderson and taken in for the game-tying score, leading to a Celtics win in overtime. Boston won the series in seven games. Worthy had a very strong Finals, with 22.1 pts per game (second to Abdul-Jabbar) on 63.8% shooting. The Lakers would go into the off-season bitter about the loss and motivated for 1985.

Worthy began the 1984–85 season as a reserve, while Wilkes returned as the starting small forward.{{cite news|first=Mitch|last=Chortkoff|title=Riley's getting the job done|date=November 19, 1984|newspaper=News-Pilot|page=B1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-pilot/166162698/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 19, 2025}} After the Lakers opened the season slowly and were outrebounded in each of their first four games, Riley started Worthy in place of Rambis. "We're looking for rebounding. We're experimenting", said the coach.{{cite news|first=Mitch|last=Chortkoff|title=Worthy helps power Lakers past Spurs|date=November 3, 1984|newspaper=The Daily Breeze|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze/166161844/ C1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze/166161888/ C6]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze/166161844/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 19, 2025}} A few games later, Riley replaced Wilkes in the starting lineup with Larry Spriggs. The Lakers dominated the West and returned to the NBA Finals. During the play-off run Worthy emerged as a feared clutch performer, averaging 21.5 points per game on 62.2% shooting in the playoffs and 23.7 points per game in a match-up against the Celtics in the championship series.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1985_finals.html|title=1985 NBA Finals Composite Box Score|publisher=basketballreference.com|access-date=December 2, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923012030/http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1985_finals.html|url-status=live}} His all-round play helped lead the team to a 4–2 victory clinched on the celebrated parquet floor of the old Boston Garden and confirmed him as one of the league's premier players. It was also in 1985 that Worthy first donned goggles after suffering a scratched cornea during a March 13 game at the Utah Jazz, wearing them for the rest of his career.

File:James Worthy attempting layup vs Houston Rockets 1986-05-17.jpg

The 1985–86 season held tremendous promise for the Lakers, who again stormed through the regular season and seemed destined to meet Boston once again.

Worthy continued to improve, raising his scoring from 17.6 to 20 points per game on 58% shooting and was named to the first of seven consecutive All-Star appearances. A trip to the Finals disappeared in a preternatural tip in the Western Conference final by 7' 4" Houston Rockets star Ralph Sampson, with the Rockets going on to be drubbed by the Celtics in the Championship series.

With stalwart center Abdul-Jabbar finally showing signs of his age the Lakers added center-forward Mychal Thompson during the 1986–1987 regular season to address the need for frontcourt help. The result was a 65–17 record and what many regard as one of the NBA's all-time great teams[http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/the-7-greatest-nba-offenses-of-all-time.html/?a=viewall The 7 Greatest NBA Offenses of All Time:] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919185733/http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/the-7-greatest-nba-offenses-of-all-time.html/?a=viewall |date=September 19, 2015 }} "The best offensive team of the Showtime Lakers era — and the best offense in NBA history" sprinting to another NBA title over the Celtics. Worthy was at the top of his game, leading the team with 23.6 points per game in the playoffs. He had a number of huge games during this '87 play-off run, in particular a vintage 39 point performance (including 6 dunks) in a 122–121 win at Seattle in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals and 33 pts 10 assists 9 rebounds in a game 1 victory in the NBA Finals versus the Celtics. The Lakers won the championship 4 games to 2.

Once again Riley drove the Lakers hard in 1987–88. During the regular season Worthy averaged 19.7 points and scored a career-high 38 points against the Atlanta Hawks. He led the Lakers in scoring in the 1988 play-offs and led the NBA in points scored during the play-offs. During the Finals against the Pistons Worthy once again excelled, averaging 22 ppg, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1988_finals.html|title=1988 NBA Finals Composite Box Score|publisher=basketballreference.com|access-date=December 2, 2017|archive-date=August 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807013857/http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1988_finals.html|url-status=live}} A 28-point, 9 rebound Game 6 and monster 36–16–10 triple-double that carried the Lakers to victory in Game 7 earned Worthy the NBA Finals MVP award and the Lakers the first back-to-back titles in the NBA since '68–'69 Celtics.

With Riley clamoring for a "Three-peat" in 1988–89 the Lakers marched through the regular season and met the Pistons for an encore in the Finals. With Abdul-Jabbar playing his last games and Johnson and Byron Scott missing three due to injuries even Worthy at his play-off best was not nearly enough. In spite of averaging a career Finals high 25.5 ppg,{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1989_finals.html|title=1989 NBA Finals Composite Box Score|publisher=basketballreference.com|access-date=December 2, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921231312/http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1989_finals.html|url-status=live}} including a career-high 40 points trying to stave off elimination in Game 4, the Lakers were swept in four.

The Lakers ran hot again in 1989–90 despite internal friction that had developed during Pat Riley's final year as head coach,{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} their 63–19 record the NBA's best. Worthy averaged 21.1 points per game and became the first player in NBA history to shoot at least 53% in each of his first eight seasons. In spite of stepped-up performances by both Johnson (25.2 ppg) and Worthy (24.2 ppg) in the play-offs, LA fell in the Conference semifinals to a hot Phoenix Suns team.

The Lakers once more won the West in 1991 and marched through the playoffs to the Finals thanks to Worthy's team-leading and career-high 21.4 ppg in '91 and the addition of former North Carolina Tarheel star Sam Perkins at center. Unfortunately, Worthy suffered a high ankle sprain in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Blazers and was very limited heading into the Finals against the Chicago Bulls. Despite LA pulling out a Game 1 victory in Chicago it ultimately wasn't enough against a surging Bulls squad led by another teammate from the 1982 NCAA Championship team, an emergent Michael Jordan. The Lakers ultimately fell in five, with Worthy sidelined for Game 5 after re-injuring his ankle the previous game.

Johnson's sudden retirement in November 1991 threw the Lakers franchise into disarray. Injuries and high mileage soon spelled the end for Worthy. The high ankle injury during the 1991 playoffs and season-ending knee surgery in 1992 robbed much of his quickness and leaping ability, and with it both his ability to finish on the fast break and drive to the hoop to score. After struggling with knee pain in the 1994–95 preseason and no prospects of another title run in any foreseeable future, Worthy announced his retirement in November 1994, after 12 seasons in the NBA.

Even on Lakers teams dominated by fellow Hall of Fame members Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson, Worthy stood out as a star during their years together. He led the Lakers in playoff scoring in their championship runs in 1987 (23.6) and 1988 (21.1) and was second to Abdul-Jabbar in the 1985 championship run (21.5). He always saved his best for the playoffs and averaged 3.5 points higher per game than in the regular season. That, his heroics in the 1982 NCAA Championship game alongside Michael Jordan, spectacular offensive displays, and flashes of defensive brilliance, cemented his legacy as "Big Game James".

Worthy played in 926 NBA regular-season games, averaging 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and three assists per game.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/worthja01.html|title=James Worthy Career Stats|publisher=basketballreference.com|access-date=December 2, 2017|archive-date=September 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926000524/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/worthja01.html|url-status=dead}} He played in 143 playoff games and averaged 21.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game and had a 54.4 field goal percentage. In 34 NBA Finals games he averaged 22.2 pts per game on 53% shooting. Worthy played in 4 Game 7s in his career and averaged 27 points and 8.2 rebounds on 60% shooting in these winner-take-all contests. He ranks sixth all-time in Lakers team scoring (16,320), third all-time in team steals (1,041) and seventh all-time in team field goal percentage (.521). Worthy was voted one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. To commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Worthy as the 59th greatest player in NBA history.{{cite news | url=https://theathletic.com/2967071/2021/11/23/nba-75-at-no-59-james-worthy-fit-equally-well-as-a-role-player-and-primary-option-for-showtime-lakers-of-80s/ | title=NBA 75: At No. 59, James Worthy fit equally well as a role player and primary option for Showtime Lakers of '80s | access-date=March 5, 2023 | archive-date=March 5, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305233508/https://theathletic.com/2967071/2021/11/23/nba-75-at-no-59-james-worthy-fit-equally-well-as-a-role-player-and-primary-option-for-showtime-lakers-of-80s/ | url-status=live | last1=Buha | first1=Jovan }} Worthy was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. His jersey No. 42 was retired by the Lakers.

{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y|leader=y}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1982}}

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 77 || 1 || 25.6 || .579 || .250 || .624 || 5.2 || 1.7 || 1.2 || .8 || 13.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1983}}

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| style="background:#cfecec;"|82* || 53 || 29.5 || .556 || .000 || .759 || 6.3 || 2.5 || .9 || .9 || 14.5

|-

| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|{{nbay|1984}}†

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 80 || 76 || 33.7 || .572 || .000 || .776 || 6.4 || 2.5 || 1.1 || .8 || 17.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1985}}

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 75 || 73 || 32.7 || .579 || .000 || .771 || 5.2 || 2.7 || 1.1 || 1.0 || 20.0

|-

| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|{{nbay|1986}}†

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| style="background:#cfecec;"|82* || 82 || 34.4 || .539 || .000 || .751 || 5.7 || 2.8 || 1.3 || 1.0 || 19.4

|-

| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|{{nbay|1987}}†

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 75 || 72 || 35.4 || .531 || .125 || .796 || 5.0 || 3.9 || 1.0 || .7 || 19.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1988}}

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 81 || 81 || 36.5 || .548 || .087 || .782 || 6.0 || 3.6 || 1.3 || .7 || 20.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1989}}

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 80 || 80 || 37.0 || .548 || .306 || .782 || 6.0 || 3.6 || 1.2 || .6 || 21.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1990}}

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 78 || 74 || 38.6 || .492 || .289 || .797 || 4.6 || 3.5 || 1.3 || .4 || 21.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1991}}

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 54 || 54 || 39.0 || .447 || .209 || .814 || 5.6 || 4.7 || 1.4 || .4 || 19.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1992}}

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 82 || 69 || 28.8 || .447 || .270 || .810 || 3.0 || 3.4 || 1.1 || .3 || 14.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1993}}

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 80 || 2 || 20.0 || .406 || .288 || .741 || 2.3 || 1.9 || .6 || .2 || 10.2

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

| 926 || 717 || 32.4 || .521 || .241 || .769 || 5.1 || 3.0 || 1.1 || .7 || 17.6

{{s-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|1984

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 21 || 0 || 33.7 || .599 || .500 || .609 || 5.0 || 2.7 || 1.3 || .5 || 17.7

|-

| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|1985†

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 19 || 19 || 32.9 || .622 || .500 || .676 || 5.1 || 2.2 || .9 || .7 || 21.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|1986

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 14 || 14 || 38.5 || .558 || .000 || .681 || 4.6 || 3.2 || 1.1 || .7 || 19.6

|-

| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|1987†

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 18 || 18 || 37.8 || .591 || .000 || .753 || 5.6 || 3.5 || 1.6 || 1.2 || 23.6

|-

| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|1988†

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 24 || 24 || 37.3 || .523 || .111 || .758 || 5.8 || 4.4 || 1.4 || .8 || 21.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|1989

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 15 || 15 || 40.0 || .567 || .375 || .788 || 6.7 || 2.8 || 1.2 || 1.1 || 24.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|1990

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 9 || 9 || 40.7 || .497 || .250 || .837 || 5.6 || 3.0 || 1.6 || .3 || 24.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|1991

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 18 || 18 || 40.7 || .465 || .167 || .736 || 4.1 || 3.9 || 1.1 || .1 || 21.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|1993

| style="text-align:left;"|L.A. Lakers

| 5 || 0 || 29.6 || .372 || .250 || .600 || 3.4 || 2.6 || 1.0 || .0 || 13.8

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

| 143 || 117 || 37.0 || .544 || .209 || .727 || 5.2 || 3.2 || 1.2 || .7 || 21.1

{{s-end}}

Worthy is a studio analyst for Spectrum SportsNet and co-host of Access SportsNet, the networks' pregame and postgame show for Lakers game telecasts on in Los Angeles; he also served as an NBA analyst for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles.

Worthy has acted in several television shows. He portrayed the Klingon Koral in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Gambit, Part II".{{cite AV media|url=https://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Generation-Episode-Gambit/dp/B000003K5M|title=Star Trek – The Next Generation, Episode 157: Gambit, Part 2|medium=VHS|work=Paramount Home Video|publisher=Paramount Pictures|location=Hollywood, California|date=February 2, 1999|access-date=March 19, 2018|asin=B000003K5M|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308183909/https://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Generation-Episode-Gambit/dp/B000003K5M|url-status=live}} He also guest starred as himself on Everybody Loves Raymond{{IMDb name|0941788}}{{Unreliable source?|sure=y|reason=See WP:IMDB|date=October 2024}} and Webster.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

On September 28, 2015, Worthy was hired to work with the Lakers coaching staff with a focus on the team's big men.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/lakers/releases/150928_jamesWorthy|title=Lakes Hire James Worthy to Work with Coaching Staff|work=NBA.com|date=September 28, 2015|access-date=October 21, 2015|archive-date=November 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101114332/http://www.nba.com/lakers/releases/150928_jamesWorthy|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/9/28/9408959/la-lakers-news-hire-james-worthy-coach-player-development?_ga=1.143737141.1049154892.1443282103|title=Lakers hire James Worthy to work with coaching staff, player development|work=SilverScreenAndRoll.com|date=September 28, 2015|access-date=September 28, 2015|archive-date=September 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929092633/http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/9/28/9408959/la-lakers-news-hire-james-worthy-coach-player-development?_ga=1.143737141.1049154892.1443282103|url-status=live}}

Worthy was married for 12 years to Angela Wilder, whom he met in 1981 at the University of North Carolina where she was a cheerleader while he was playing.{{cite news|last=Leung|first=Rebecca|title=Dancing With The Devil|date=September 20, 2013|website=CBSNews.com|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dancing-with-the-devil-30-09-2003/|access-date=April 15, 2020|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808191303/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dancing-with-the-devil-30-09-2003/|url-status=live}} The couple had two daughters before divorcing in 1996.{{cite news|last=Ryon|first=Ruth|title=Britney finds an entertaining dwelling|date=October 28, 2007|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/Britney-finds-an-entertaining-dwelling-3301732.php|access-date=April 15, 2020|via=SFGate.com|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808033243/https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/Britney-finds-an-entertaining-dwelling-3301732.php|url-status=live}}

On November 14, 1990, Worthy was arrested in Houston, and charged with two counts of solicitation of prostitution in a Houston Police Department sting operation.{{cite news | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE0DF1F30F935A25752C1A966958260 | work=The New York Times | title=SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Worthy Arrested | date=November 16, 1990 | access-date=May 5, 2010 | archive-date=March 11, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311084433/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE0DF1F30F935A25752C1A966958260 | url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Worthy Is Arrested on Sex Charge : Lakers: Houston vice officers take him into custody hours before game on two counts of solicitation of prostitution. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-16-sp-4733-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 16, 1990 |access-date=April 13, 2020 |archive-date=April 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413050507/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-16-sp-4733-story.html |url-status=live }} He was sentenced to one year of probation, fined $1,000 and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service.

Worthy is the founder of the James Worthy Foundation,{{cite web |url=http://www.jamesworthy42.com/foundation |title=James Worthy – Foundation | The official website of NBA player and analyst James Worthy |publisher=Jamesworthy42.com |access-date=June 28, 2014 |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522115541/http://jamesworthy42.com/foundation/ |url-status=dead }} and dedicates a substantial amount of his time and resources to support non-profit community organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers of America, YMCA, and others.

• List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders

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