10 Greatest Players in Los Angeles Lakers Franchise History

#9 James Worthy

James Worthy

Big Game James was a big part of the Lakers success in the 1980s. Blessed with blistering speed which allowed him to get past virtually anyone, Worthy made a living out of scoring inside and with the mid-range jumper.

Drafted 1st overall in 1982, Worthy actually started off by choking in the big stage believe it or not. He and Magic Johnson combined to make critical late-game mistakes which led to the Lakers losing in the 1984 Finals, but that was it.

Worthy then began making a name for himself by performing on the biggest stage. After strong showings in the 1985 and 87 Finals, he came into his own in 1988. With Abdul-Jabbar now very much in decline, Worthy shouldered the scoring load and led the Lakers to victory.

His triple-double in Game 7 of those Finals, the only one of his Hall of Fame career, further validated the Big Game James tag. Despite playing alongside two of the greatest of all time, he managed to stand out, electrifying the crowd with his dazzling displays over the years. He currently ranks 6th in points and 3rd in steals in franchise history.