JAMESWORTHY
LOS ANGELES LAKERSJames Worthy — 3× NBA champion, Finals MVP, 7× All-Star, "Big Game James." Career stats, bio and legacy of the Showtime Lakers' clutch playoff performer.
3×NBA CHAMPION
7×ALL-STARJames Worthy biography — NBA career story, legacy, championships, awards and personal background.
Career timeline, milestones, and place among all-time greats.
"Big Game James" earned his nickname for a simple reason — his numbers always climbed in the playoffs, peaking with a triple-double in the decisive Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals. Born February 27, 1961, in Gastonia, North Carolina. Height 6 ft 9 in (206 cm).
He starred at North Carolina (1979–1982), winning the 1982 NCAA championship and Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. Drafted 1st overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982, he spent his entire 12-season career with the franchise as a key piece of the "Showtime" Lakers alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Worthy won three NBA championships (1985, 1987, 1988), earning Finals MVP in 1988 after that Game 7 triple-double against Detroit. A seven-time All-Star, his postseason scoring average (21.1 ppg) exceeded his regular-season mark, a rare distinction reflecting his reputation as a clutch performer.
Career totals: 16,320 points (17.6 ppg), 4,708 rebounds (5.1 rpg), 2,791 assists (3.0 apg) over 926 games.
His No. 42 was retired by the Lakers. Named to the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
James Worthy quick facts — Height 6'9. 17.6 PPG career average. Championship years: 1985, 1987, 1988.
Height, weight, draft year, and years in the league.
James Worthy awards and honors — Championship years: 1985, 1987, 1988.
Major individual and team accolades with seasons won.
3x
7x
2x
James Worthy career statistics summary — 17.6 PPG career average.
Regular-season averages and totals across the full NBA career.
James Worthy career highs — best single-game performances in points, rebounds, assists and more.
Personal records with dates and opponents.
vs LAL
vs UTA
vs DAL
vs LAL
vs LAL
vs LAL
James Worthy advanced stats — PER, win shares, BPM and overall impact metrics.
Impact measured beyond traditional box score statistics.
James Worthy playoff stats — postseason points, rebounds, assists and games played.
Postseason production across every playoff run.
James Worthy All-Star Game stats — appearances, minutes and showcase performance.
Mid-season exhibition stats across every All-Star selection.
James Worthy NBA transactions — trades, signings and team changes by date.
Team moves and dates across every NBA stop.
FAQ about James Worthy — rings, MVP awards, career stats, height.
Answers to the most searched questions about championships and career honors.
James Worthy averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists per game in the regular season.
James Worthy salary history — Career salary $11,850,000.
Year-by-year compensation across the professional career.
Players similar to James Worthy — statistical peers by position, peak seasons and career arc.
All-time comparisons with the closest playing profile.
NoteThe club shown in the profile isn't necessarily the player's last team, but the one he's most associated with and that defined his career. See the full team history in the Transactions section.