James Worthy
Nicknamed Big Game James, was a college and professional basketball player from Gastonia, North Carolina.
He was drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. As a Laker, he contributed to 3 NBA championships in 1985, 1987, and 1988. He was best known for his one-handed tomahawk slam dunk.
He was a member of the 1983 NBA all-rookie team. His 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assist in Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals got him Most Valuable Player. He began wearing eye goggles after suffering a severe eye injury during the 1984-1985 season.
Worthy played in 926 NBA games, had a career field goal percentage of .521, and averaged 17.6 points per game. He was a first-ballot inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. His jersey #42 was retired by the Los Angeles Lakers after his retirement.
As of the 2005-2006 NBA season, Worthy works as a color commentator for Laker game telecasts and highlights on KCAL and KCBS television stations in Los Angeles. He also has been senior vice president of RP & Associates, a marketing company in Hermosa Beach, California, since February of 2005.
