Worthy was born in Gastonia, North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the 1982 NCAA championship team. He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the first overall pick in the 1982 NBA draft.
Worthy quickly established himself as one of the best players in the league, earning All-Star honors in his first three seasons. He was a key member of the Lakers' "Showtime" era, helping the team to three NBA championships in the 1980s. He was also named the MVP of the 1988 NBA Finals.
Worthy was known for his versatility, as he was able to play both forward positions. He was an excellent scorer, rebounder, and passer, and was able to create his own shot. He was also a great defender, often taking on the toughest defensive assignments.
Worthy retired in 1994 after 12 seasons in the NBA. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003 and his number (42) was retired by the Lakers in 1995. He is remembered as one of the greatest players in NBA history and one of the most beloved Lakers of all time.
🏀