James Worthy, nickname Big Game James

James Worthy, nickname Big Game James-James Ager Worthy (born February 27, 1961) is a retired Hall of Fame American college and professional basketball player. Named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, "Big Game James" was a seven-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA champion. A standout for the North Carolina Tar Heels, the 6 ft 9 in (2.05 m) small forward was the MOP of the 1982 NCAA Tournament and #1 pick of the 1982 NBA Draft. He was born in Gastonia, North Carolina. Worthy was an All-American high school basketball player at Ashbrook High School in Gastonia. Worthy averaged 21.5 points and 12.5 rebounds during his senior season, for a team that lost in the state championship game. Never was a nickname better suited to a player than James Worthy's moniker, "Big Game James." By the time he retired, Worthy owned a Most Outstanding Player Award from the 1982 NCAA Final Four and an MVP Award from the 1988 NBA Finals, he was a member of three NBA championship teams with the Los Angeles Lakers (in 1985, 1987, and 1988), and his career