James Worthy's Championship Clinching Triple-Double (36 Points, 16 Rebounds, 10 Assists)

[@jasonhowell-lg5ig]

Big Game James..loved him as a Tar Heels fan. One of my favorite players ever.

[@Riles3152]

That 88 Lakers team went through 3 straight games 7’s from 2nd round to NBA finals. It couldn’t have been more of a longer and tougher journey to that 2nd straight championship. The first team to go back to back since Bill Russell’s Celtics.

[@noneofyourbusiness747]

That's probably the greatest defense of all time he did that against. Legendary performance.

[@monica93304]

I saw on KZbin Zeke being interviewed by NBA TV a while back. In that bit, he talked about when they went into the locker room at halftime in game 7. Chuck Daly (RIP) walked by Mahorn, Sally, Laimbeer, and Rodman. As he walked by the told them, "guys, you're on your own with Worthy. I don't know what to tell you". They couldn't stop him. Big Game was a lion tearing into his prey. WHAT A GAME by that man. I remember that like it was yesterday. It's great to hear Dick Stockton and Hubie Brown who in my opinion is one of the greatest teachers of the game of basketball towards an audience.

[@jasonhowell-lg5ig]

Two All Time great teams fighting it out..Lakers win back to back then the Pistons did.

[@fideltorres6380]

The best James in Lakers history🏀🏆🏆🏆

[@scottrackley4457]

nobody else will wear #42 in purple and gold

[@mattwuxx3888]

Worthy's insane first-step quickness and driving/interior scoring ability is basically what allowed Scott/Cooper to get the drawdowns/kickouts to get the 3-pt shot opportunities. Worthy basically created the modern NBA offenses that teams like Golden State used to win their rings. Jordan of course solidified it with his driving ability and guys like Kerr/Paxton shooting the 3's years later. But Worthy latently created the paradigm of the modern NBA offense for coaches to witness and design the new sets, by himself.

[@hermanmelville3871]

All while being a greatly underrated shooter himself.

[@mattwuxx3888]

@@hermanmelville3871 Yes. I was also going to say that but of course when he was at NC, he was more of a no-arc jumpshooter at best with mostly inside moves. He vastly improved that with L.A. in his mid-range shooting.

[@123slasher.16]

What I will always remember about this game was at the half when CBS was interviewing Bob Lanier and Wilt Chamberlain and Wilt was talking about how Jabbar should have retired years ago. Anyway, they asked Wilt who was the best player in the NBA and he said John Stockton, and Lanier put his hand on Wilt's forehead to see if he was feeling well. Couldn't stop laughing at that.

[@noneofyourbusiness747]

Wilt was a professional contrarian.

[@clkvlk]

Wilt's huge ego probably felt threatened.. That's why he proposed a low-key player like Stockton

[@iamgreatnow7218]

Sounds like a racoon.

[@cornbreadmilton5265]

​@@iamgreatnow7218I know what u talkin bout,there beef in the 70's

[@merchantsmithimages]

Worthy eating up double and triple team efforts by Detroit with ease. A Hall of Fame performance for the ages. That was nice of Jerry Buss and the organization to let the fans celebrate on court.

[@railenherman6482]

The second Triple Double in a Game 7 of the Finals in NBA history.

[@Trancymind]

Actually the 1st triple double in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

[@railenherman6482]

@@Trancymind First was 1969 Jerry West.

[@Trancymind]

@@railenherman6482 Thank you for the sharing info. All right. That's cool!

[@davidmurray6949]

2 of the greatest performances in finals history comes from the Lakers this game & Magics rookie game 6 vs Philly .

[@bluegregory6239]

That 1984-1991 Lakers Team played the most beautiful offensive basketball in NBA history.

[@jasonhowell-lg5ig]

That fast break was the best I ever saw.

[@andresdelportillo9917]

Also has the refs too

[@doa_824]

1979 - 1991*

[@monica93304]

And it was their defense that got it all started. It was underrated. The type of basketball played by LA, Detroit, and the Boston was the way it was mean to be played.

[@truthmayhurt4488]

Prime James was unstoppable

[@fideltorres6380]

Amazing how Worthy could drive the lane and score againts 3 great Piston defenders...

[@j.wright8157]

I'll never forget the time I saw him at the entrance of a Wal-Mart. He was one TALL guy!

[@hectorlopez1069]

James worthy won a championship in college with Jordan. Then, he would win championships with the Lakers.

[@Trancymind]

Without Worthy, Jordan didn't come close winning another college title.

[@jasonhowell-lg5ig]

​​​@@TrancymindTrue.. but he never had another team mate as good as Worthy.. but Jordan did get this first championship from him and the Lakers.. bottom line injuries or not.

[@Trancymind]

@@jasonhowell-lg5ig James Worthy and Byron Scott were injured during the 1991 NBA Finals. Michael Cooper being retired didn't help things either. Just imagine if Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant were injured during the 1991 NBA Finals. Lakers would have beaten the Bulls.

[@axl8653]

Worthy carried them in the NCAA championship.

[@Trancymind]

Dennis Rodman could stop Shaq in the playoffs but not James Worthy.

[@jasonhowell-lg5ig]

True.. but a young Rodman then..he would bulk up later on.

[@Trancymind]

@@jasonhowell-lg5ig James Worthy during his prime, nobody could stop him.

[@andresdelportillo9917]

@@Trancymindhe got stopped plenty bro

[@Trancymind]

@@andresdelportillo9917 by whom?

[@jasonhowell-lg5ig]

@@Trancymind Whoa I am James Worthy fan I watched him as a Tar Heel here in NC.. James was the greater player than Rodman.. just the older Rodman's D was better.. that is all . Big Game James won a Finals MVP. Rodman did not. He Was a different player than James.

[@realg5276]

Slightly off topic at 21 seconds into the video Magic Johnson grabs a rebound against Rick Mahorn and Rodman. Let me say that was a man's rebound. They played ball bsck in those days.

[@chake46]

WOOORRTTTTTHHHHHYYYYY!!!

[@JakeStine]

Was the ball easier to palm in the 80's? Or did guys just have bigger stronger mitts on average than today? :hmm:

[@springfieldbearpatrol2937]

Worthy In particular had giant hands, could always catch Magic;s bullet passes, make these insane swooping finger roll moves, and in some he’d sort of toy with ball in the post to see if the defender would bite in one direction. There’s probably guys today that could do the same but it’s too sticky, the ball movement is more important. I do think line-ups were bigger though in the 80s. Most teams had a 6’8” or 6’9” small forward, a 6’11” PF and a 7 foot center. Teams today are all small ball - with the Warriors DG holds down the middle. He’d get abused in the 80s trying to control the paint by himself.

[@rapgodreloaded9259]

He's like Lebron James with a mid range.

[@Trancymind]

Both Lebron and Worthy had the same height. Worthys 1st step was faster than Lebrons. Worthy played very gracefully with his moves around the basket as well as more skillfully.

[@jasonhowell-lg5ig]

@@Trancymind And James had a better record in the Finals( 3-3) unlike the King 👑 of beta males.( 3-6 with a bubble ring 💍) To real Laker fans Worthy deserves a statue before LBJ. Worthy 3 championships and one Finals MVP.. to LBJs one and one Finals MVP. PS Wilt as well before The Queen 👑. 💯

[@NameCallingIsWeak]

Lebron is a better passer

[@jacksoN14180]

Lebron has 4 btw & its hilarious how you think going to 10 finals compared to 6 is less impressive. I love worthy, bruh, but don't be an idiot. You aint a real laker fan@@jasonhowell-lg5ig

[@TellHerNothing]

@@jasonhowell-lg5igI bet you wouldn’t shame the great jerry west for his finals record, fake laker fan.

[@Jenny010132]

May-horn?

[@MikeB70]

Why didn't they clear the floor for the inbound with 2 seconds left? It was a 3 point game.

[@davidhilliard1838]

Detroit had mo timeouts game ended

[@kylepecs75]

why did he retire so early at age 33.....in today's game that's way too early

[@TheStatisfiedOne]

Too many injuries

[@springfieldbearpatrol2937]

Mileag and injuries. Deep playoff runs in both college and early pro years plus no real back up. The minutes really took their toll. A big part of his game was easy buckets using his quickness and finishing capability, as he hit his 30s you could see he lost a step. He relied pretty effectively on his mid-range jumper but you could see the frustration where he lost the swooping moves that made him so great. With today’s management and medicine he’d probably have more to give in his 30s.

[@kylepecs75]

@@springfieldbearpatrol2937 Thank you

[@fideltorres6380]

Worthy always had Tendonitis in the knees

[@stoneythompson233]

👍

[@edgaredgar9138]

The best Player in all the series was Magic Johnson worthy won IT only because Off Game 7 Magic was the real MVP Not worthy

[@richardii5989]

Just like Kareem was MVP but Magic earned for starting in Kareems place as a rookie

[@Riles3152]

@@richardii5989 💯

[@aarondigby5054]

I was so glad when the pistons beat LA and Portland to wrap up the eighties I was sick and tired of Boston and LA. GO Bad Boys

[@rsenior7140]

The Lakers were without both Magic and Scott for that series. Full strength, it's another LA chip

[@nastypiglosi1788]

Not so sure. The Lakers were older and beaten up from a decade of tough playoffs

[@piccodiribibi5391]

@@nastypiglosi1788 If I remember right, the Lakers swept everyone in the playoffs that year. They were trying to win it for Kareem. Luck just wasn't on their side. I also remember that Worthy played out of his mind in that finals series, but it just wasn't enough without Magic and Scott.

[@Jenny010132]

I almost downvoted out of instinct. PISTONS WERE ROBBED.

[@wingchun1719]

Lol

[@NameCallingIsWeak]

I'll trade the Pistons their 1989 rings for the Lakers 1988 ring. The wrong team won both years.

[@dusttaker]

YUP Bill Laimbeer did not foul Kareem ... thats the PHANTOM FOUL!

[@BlindVeganRescue]

The Pistons were 98% gonna lose anyway

[@Riles3152]

@@BlindVeganRescue How?

[@clkvlk]

Honestly it was such a low quality game for an NBA final. 80s might be overrated?

[@springfieldbearpatrol2937]

80s was legit. Shoes were different. Rules were different. Schemes different. Here this Pistons team was known to muck up games, that was their style and helped them push the Lakers to 7 games. I saw this game live, Worthy was just unreal. Stat line was maybe one of the best you’ll ever see in such a high stakes games (36/17/11).