James Worthy w/o Magic from '88-'91: 26.2 PPG/6.4 RPG/4.0 APG/2.6 SPG on 60.55% TS

[Im Still Ballin]

Over the 10 games, Big Game James -- without Magic Johnson -- put up:

26.2 PPG / 6.4 RPG / 4.0 APG / 2.6 SPG / 0.5 BPG on 56.9% FG, 81.8% FT [60.55% TS]



James Worthy averaged 26.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 10 games without Magic Johnson between the 1988-89 and 1990-91 seasons.


I made a thread some weeks ago about James Worthy vs. Dominique Wilkins. I thought this information was interesting. I think this validates my preference for him over Dominque. The general narrative is that he couldn't scale up his performance and play a #1 role.

[SouBeachTalents]

That’s a minuscule sample size. That’s like 2-3 games every season :lol

[Im Still Ballin]

That’s a minuscule sample size. That’s like 2-3 games every season :lol

It's a good indication of what he could do without Magic; plus it adds to his playoff performances. James showed that he was an exceptional talent.

I'm not saying he was better than Magic, just that he was great in his own right.

[Im Still Ballin]

For larger sample sizes:



'87-'91: 22 games

James Worthy averaged 22.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 22 games without Magic Johnson between the 1986-87 and 1990-91 seasons.

54.2% FG
79.3% FT
58.51% TS




'86-'91: 32 games

James Worthy averaged 21.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 32 games without Magic Johnson between the 1985-86 and 1990-91 seasons.

55.2% FG
80.6% FT
59.21% TS




'84-'91: 51 games

James Worthy averaged 20.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 51 games without Magic Johnson between the 1983-84 and 1990-91 seasons.

56.3% FG
77.0% FT
59.92% TS


The issue the further back you go is that Kareem gets younger. Still, he was an efficient player, with and without Magic.

[Im Still Ballin]

bump

[3ba11]

The only guy that made Jordan the *pippen" in 82'

A goat quick-iso and clutch player

Leading playoff scorer for Lakers from 87-91' (5 straight years)

[iamgine]

Worthy was a top 25 player who turned into a top 15 player in the playoff.

[3ba11]

Worthy was a top 25 player who turned into a top 15 player in the playoff.


Top 25 player in 85', but top 50 all-time?

Makes no sense

Worthy was leading playoff scorer for Lakers from 87-91' (5 straight years) - he was their go-to player with many series of 25-30 ppg on goat efficiency

[ClipperRevival]

Worthy had his own team as "the man" when Magic had to retire after 1990-91.

He was 30 years old and retired 3 years later.

His stats post Magic from 1992-1994 (216 games):

14.4. PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, .435 FG%

Fact is, he was a great 2nd fiddle and not a good alpha. Just didn't have the overall variety in his game to be that dude. He could not set guys up, only get his. Not a good defender.

[3ba11]

Worthy had his own team as "the man" when Magic had to retire after 1990-91.

He was 30 years old and retired 3 years later.

His stats post Magic from 1992-1994 (216 games):

14.4. PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, .435 FG%

Fact is, he was a great 2nd fiddle and not a good alpha. Just didn't have the overall variety in his game to be that dude. He could not set guys up, only get his. Not a good defender.


Prime Worthy saw his numbers go up without Magic like the 89' Finals (26/4/4 on 48%)

and he was an all-star in 92' (20/6/5), but got hurt the last 30 games and wasn't the same after that

Worthy was no different than DeRozan except he was a far better quick-iso player and big game player.. It's funny that historic performance in historic Game 7 of Finals is a big deal until Worthy does it .

[ClipperRevival]

Prime Worthy saw his numbers go up without Magic like the 89' Finals (26/4/4 on 48%)

and he was an all-star in 92' (20/6/5), but got hurt the last 30 games and wasn't the same after that

Worthy was no different than DeRozan except he was a far better quick-iso player and big game player.. It's funny that historic performance in historic Game 7 of Finals is a big deal until Worthy does it .

Worthy was a great offensive player for sure. Amazing first step, face up game, post game and GOAT tier on the break.

And he did elevate his play come playoff time but I still maintain, he was a perfect 2nd fiddle and didn't have the overall game to have much success as the alpha. He could not set teammates up at all or handle the rock in the half court. He was a plant and explode type player with a couple of dribbles.

[3ba11]

Worthy was a great offensive player for sure. Amazing first step, face up game, post game and GOAT tier on the break.

And he did elevate his play come playoff time but I still maintain, he was a perfect 2nd fiddle and didn't have the overall game to have much success as the alpha. He could not set teammates up at all or handle the rock in the half court. He was a plant and explode type player with a couple of dribbles.


Even if you think Worthy isn't an elite 1st option, he's still a better one than Pippen, who had half the scoring ability.

Peak Worthy would be the Jordan bailout option in the triangle that Pippen couldn't be in 94', and Worthy might average more than MJ or in the vicinity of 30 ppg..

His goat quick iso skillset would fit like a glove in the triangle offense, which requires consistent, quick bailouts throughout the game - Pippen deferred them, while Worthy was built for them..

Worthy would give the triangle the scoring threat needed to have a juggernaut offense, which the Bulls lost in 94' - the defensive ranking was the same, so the offensive drop-off was the difference between 3-peat and 2nd Round (and then lottery in 95').

[iamgine]

Top 25 player in 85', but top 50 all-time?

Makes no sense

Worthy was leading playoff scorer for Lakers from 87-91' (5 straight years) - he was their go-to player with many series of 25-30 ppg on goat efficiency
What makes no sense. :confusedshrug:

[3ba11]

What makes no sense. :confusedshrug:


Worthy's playoff performance was top 5 every year despite being buried on a super-team in the regular season

Being the most lethal playoff scorer in the West every year isn't top 25

You're just going by dumb media accolades, which are the very thing to n dispute and must be backed by actual performance

[Dr. Lemon]

James Worthy was an extremely underrated player overshadowed by the panache and extravagance of Magic.

Truly one of the best to come out of North Carolina.

[iamgine]

Worthy's playoff performance was top 5 every year despite being buried on a super-team in the regular season

Being the most lethal playoff scorer in the West every year isn't top 25

You're just going by dumb media accolades, which are the very thing to n dispute and must be backed by actual performance

I said he becomes top 15 in the playoff.

You don't think he suddenly becomes a better overall player in the playoff than say...Patrick Ewing...do you? :lol