Throwback Thursday: James Worthy’s 1988 NBA Finals Performance

Corey Hansford
2 Min Read

James WorthyThis past season, LeBron James became just the second player in NBA history to record a triple-double in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Twenty-five years ago, James Worthy became the first when he put up 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists in the Lakers 108-105 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Worthy would be named NBA Finals MVP because of the performance.

Worthy’s performance in the 1988 NBA Finals cemented his status as ‘Big Game James.’ Star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was no longer the dominant force he was earlier in the decade, and it was up to Worthy to pick up some of the slack. He was more than up to the task.

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With the Lakers trailing 3-2 in the series, this could have easily been a low point in Lakers lore, but Worthy’s Game 7 performance along with a 28-point, 9-rebound outing in a must-win Game 6 helped bring another championship to the city of Los Angeles.

Check out Worthy’s Finals performance here:

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Corey Hansford is the Senior Editor for Lakers Nation, as well as a contributor for Dodger Blue, Rams News Wire, and Raiders News Wire. He is a passionate follower of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chelsea FC, and the UFC. He can usually be seen arguing the merits of Kobe Bryant or cursing the decisions of Jerry Jones. He is also a former producer and associate producer for Sirius XM Sports Radio on both the Fantasy Sports Channel and College Sports Nation. Proud graduate of Long Beach Poly High School and The Real HU, Howard University, with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Follow him on all social media outlets at @TheeCoreyH.