Rating prime james worthy and how would he do in the nba today without magic?

Jeggs · Star Player Joined: 14 Oct 2013 Posts: 1659

I like JW but I just wonder if he would be an average player in todays game. He was not athletically gifted like some of these guys today. Great finisher of course which Magic took full advantage of. Good individual scorer...

But I am doubtful a prime James Worthy would even make the all star team in this era. I definitely do not see him as franchise worthy in todays game...heck he was never a franchise player.

I respect worthy's game. He is an above average talent, but I cannot help but think he was a byproduct of Magic...that without Magic he may not even be a HOF player.

22 · Franchise Player Joined: 05 Apr 2013 Posts: 17063

oh jeggs

danzag · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 3:37 pm Post subject:

Looking forward to the trade deadline.

Jeggs · Star Player Joined: 14 Oct 2013 Posts: 1659

you dont like the topic you can move on. im guessing you guys never even saw worthy play.

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 53796

madddogg · Starting Rotation Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 182

Hard to compare players from different eras. Also hard to compare worthy by himself without magic, its like comparing karl malone without stockton.

But I would still want a prime worthy on our roster now, worthy was better than drexler at the least.

Vencal · Sixth Man Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 87

Okay, Jeggs you got me to write something. I am one of the "old timers" around here, been watching since the 70's and saw most of Worthy's games. Seems like my duty to share my old timey memories with the younger-ones.

The question about Worthy fitting in today's game is actually a really good one and I have thought about it before. Let me give the usual preface and disclaimer now.....I really like Worthy, show-time Lakers and all Lakers everywhere and in every time, etc. I tend to be Magic biased as well. I think Jeggs has stated a legitimate point here.

Worthy was a great closer, amazing quick step to the basket, hi BB IQ and a pretty good passer out of double coverage. For his size, he was quicker than those guarding him. But none of those skills was HOF worthy, in my opinion, without Magic there to exploit those skills. On another team, I see Worthy All Star material a few seasons, but the overall Laker team talent and Magic got him to the next level.

Personally, of all the 80's Laker greats, I see Worthy has having the hardest time being great if you time-travelled him to present NBA. As I recall he was a little under 6'9". He was not the best rebounder and he was not overly strong. Today I see guys his size and bigger, stronger, and just as quick as he was (think Blake Griffin). I think he would have a harder time getting his shots off uncontested. I see him being pushed around on the defensive end. But now if you put Magic on the team with him today.....I think he would be almost as great. That is just how good Magic was at exploiting his team-mates' talents and Magic and Worthy were a perfect complement to pair together.

And the more I think about it, todays 50 year old versions of Magic and Worthy would be a hell of a lot more fun to watch then current team.
Do it Mitch!!!

iam · Starting Rotation Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 816

I have Worthy on my 2k15 "MY TEAM" and he can definitely hang with today's youth. Best finisher on the team, great low post offense but average defender.

venturalakersfan · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 4:51 pm Post subject:

He would be one of the best players in the league and a HOFer.
_________________
RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.

Aeneas Hunter · Retired Number Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 31763

I don't think it is so much a question of playing with Magic as it is playing on a title team. Would Worthy have gone to the Hall of Fame if he played for the Nets, even with all the same stats? Probably not, though his college achievements might have gotten him into the discussion. He wouldn't have been Big Game James as a Net. He only made all-NBA twice, and it was third team. Without the fame and titles that came with being a Showtime Laker, Worthy's resume doesn't exactly scream "Hall of Fame."

Now, would he have been an average player without Magic? No way. He was going to be a star. Today, he'd be a pretty good SF, probably similar to Paul Pierce.

tlim · Star Player Joined: 26 Jun 2002 Posts: 6649

Worthy is a small forward. Griffin definitely isn't a small forward.

He also has back to the basket skills that a ton of these players these days do not. Great, great, drop step. And no, he's nowhere as slow as Paul Pierce.

He had quickness, a nice touch, and footwork that most people don't have these days.

It's like this: Howard is really fast, and even more athletic than Shaq was. He has more hops and more speed than Shaq had, but he lacks the skills that Shaq had (plus the mass when he got older). Howard has no drop step. He doesn't have a touch anywhere, and his form is even worse than Shaq's.

He doesn't have the defensive fundamentals as well as the offensive toolkit that Shaq had (even heavy version of him). This is what Worthy is like as well as the speed.

He'd still be great, but maybe not superstar level that he was back when.

activeverb · Retired Number Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 37470

activeverb · Retired Number Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 37470

tonman · Starting Rotation Joined: 12 Jul 2014 Posts: 585

you can turn it around. how great could worthy be if he didn't have Magic around and that he was the alpha on the team.

you think that Worthy played at his full potential with the Lakers. maybe he had to take a step back in order to make the team work.

tonman · Starting Rotation Joined: 12 Jul 2014 Posts: 585

KobeDunk · Retired Number Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 26849

This era is garbage. U call this basketball? Worthy would tear this era up !

kwase · Star Player Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 3069

Aeneas Hunter · Retired Number Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 31763

SuperboyReformed · Star Player Joined: 07 Oct 2012 Posts: 4083

I think Worthy would be pretty incredible in this current NBA, depending on a couple of things I don't care to get into.

But an interesting thought to consider...Worthy was on the same team as Jordan, and Worthy was considered the primary option. he was also the older athlete, but still an interesting thought to swirl around.

LakerLanny · Retired Number Joined: 24 Oct 2001 Posts: 47580

lakersken80 · Retired Number Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 38780

Worthy was under-appreciated because of who his teammates were...
He was Finals MVP against the Bad Boys Pistons, so I think he would do fine in today's NBA.

J.C. Smith · Franchise Player Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 12670

I think his high post game would still be unstoppable. His athletic advantages would be smaller, but his array of spin moves, finger rolls, pump fakes and fadeaway jumpers would still be tough to defend.

Mike@LG · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:42 pm Post subject:

44-25 · Starting Rotation Joined: 05 Aug 2013 Posts: 447

Unstoppable spin move. Nice outside shot.

Different team - He is lead scorer.

He was number 2 iso on team behind Kareem.

HOF in this era also.

TooMuchMajicBuss · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:09 pm Post subject:

James Worthy would have thrived in today's whistle-happy NBA. To say he would only be considered an average athlete today is way off mark. Prime Worthy was an athlete and extremely skilled, and he'd likely be a primary scoring option on many of today's teams, just as he would have been on any team in the 80's other than the Lakers or Celtics.

All-Star if he's on a contending team in today's era with today's rules. Contention for scoring titles All-Star with average defense.