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Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Jamaal Wilkes was still starting at small forward. They didn't need me" - James Worthy on why Jerry West trusted him to become a star for the Showtime Lakers
With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar protecting the paint and dominating the boards and Magic Johnson orchestrating the offense with pinpoint precision, the Los Angeles Lakers' "Showtime" era was one of the most feared transition attacks in NBA history. However, that piece would have been incomplete without the efforts of James Worthy. He was a vital piece of this dynasty despite the uncertainty about whether he would even enter the NBA at the time he did. Worthy's trade "Big Game James" was considered a top-tier prospect. At North Carolina, he had just led the Tar Heels to an NCAA championship, playing alongside a promising freshman named Michael Jordan. There was one team that complemented his profile and it was the Purple and Gold — spearheaded by general manager Jerry West. Advertisement "They needed somebody who would fit in," "Big Game James" said of the Lakers. "They were looking for a unique player… They had just won two championships: '80 and '82. Jamaal Wilkes was still starting at small forward. They didn't need me, so I think Jerry West was looking for the right attitude, a guy that understood his role and was patient. And, I was that guy." The Lakers' opportunity to draft James came from a 1979 deal that sent Don Ford to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for their 1982 first-round pick. The Cavs struggled, finishing with the NBA's worst record that season. That set up a coin toss between Cleveland and the then-San Diego Clippers for the No. 1 overall selection. The Lakers, despite being the reigning NBA champions, won the flip — a fortunate turn of events that gave them the top pick. With West leading the decision-making process, L.A. selected Worthy over other top prospects, securing the final piece of what would become a dynasty. Related: "I was probably emotional and upset and directed a lot of that anger toward the team" - Hill admits he regrets how his career in Detroit ended Showtime dominance While the Lakers didn't necessarily need the UNC product in 1982, his arrival propelled Showtime into an unstoppable force. Over the next decade, the franchise claimed three NBA championships (1985, 1987, 1988) with Worthy playing a key role. Advertisement He was an ideal matchup for any opponent — exactly the kind of player needed to build a dynasty and the Lakers did just that. "I was tough to handle with a power forward body and with small forward quickness," the Hall of Famer said. That blend of physical gifts and skill came into full display in the 1988 NBA Finals. With the Lakers facing the Pistons in a grueling seven-game battle, Worthy delivered when it mattered most. In Game 7, he recorded 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists — the first triple-double of his career, leading L.A. to a 108-105 victory and clinching their third championship of the decade. He took home the Finals MVP honors that year. Worthy's ability to thrive in transition, finish with both power and finesse and step up in crucial moments made him an indispensable part of one of the greatest teams in basketball history. West's belief in "Big Game James" had paid off, proving that sometimes the missing piece to a dynasty is the right mentality and fit. Related: "Are you even qualified to talk basketball to me?' - Dominique Wilkins on why he cringes when people say 3-pointers are better than 2-pointers
USA Today
17-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The six college football coaches with best chance of winning first national title
The six college football coaches with best chance of winning first national title Show Caption Hide Caption What Tim Tebow loved and what he'd change about the new CFP format after its first year Mackenzie Salmon chats with Tim Tebow about his takeaways from the first year of the 12-team playoff format and here's what he liked and what he'd change. Sports Seriously Three's a crowd, but four's a party. Who's going to become the fourth active coach to win a national championship? Texas' Steve Sarkisian tops the list. Transfer hauls give Oregon's Dan Lanning and LSU's Brian Kelly a shot at national title next season. Penn State's James Franklin boasts another strong team, but can he win the big games? Three's a crowd, but four's a party. Ryan Day joined Kirby Smart and Dabo Swinney as college football's only active coaches to win a national championship. The number was as high as five before Nick Saban's retirement, Jim Harbaugh's bolt for the NFL and Mack Brown's ouster. So, who stands in the on-deck circle? Let's peek at six candidates likeliest to turn three into four. 6. James Franklin (Penn State) Penn State should be ranked in the preseason top five. It returns quarterback Drew Allar and its top two running backs from last season's team that reached the College Football Playoff semifinals. So, Franklin's a prime candidate, right? Well, there's one problem: Franklin almost never wins his biggest games, and he'd need to win a big game or two or three to capture a crown. The Nittany Lions lost each of their three toughest games last season. Also, Penn State must replace defensive standout Abdul Carter and offensive standout Tyler Warren. Making the playoff seems probable, but a national championship? "Big Game James" would need to stop being a sarcastic dig at Franklin. COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF: Which teams return to playoff in 2025? More than you think. OPINION: As SEC eyes College Football Playoff bracket revision, that idea faces a roadblock 5. Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame) Notre Dame's got good bones. Good culture. Its independent scheduling positions the Irish to perennially win 10 or more games, making them playoff regulars. Consider Notre Dame's 2025 schedule. Tell me the game in which the Irish will be the underdog. I don't see one. Winning a national championship in this era, though, comes a lot easier with a standout quarterback and star wide receiver or two. Those two positions became the obvious difference in Notre Dame's national championship loss to Ohio State. For Freeman to be the next coach to win it all, he'll need a quarterback to emerge. Redshirt freshman CJ Carr, let's see what you got in that mended elbow. 4. Kalen DeBoer (Alabama) DeBoer misfired in his first season replacing Saban. No sugar coating it. He certainly hasn't, acknowledging he failed to meet expectations. But, look here, Alabama signed the nation's No. 3-ranked recruiting class, and Miami transfer Isaiah Horton will upgrade the receiving corps. Experienced players fill the defense. Alabama's national title bona fides hinge on its quarterback. Is Ty Simpson ready to be a starter after three years as a backup? How quickly will five-star signee Keelon Russell develop? DeBoer reunited with Ryan Grubb, his longtime consigliere. I don't doubt Grubb will be a coordinator upgrade, but he can't change the quarterback personnel. Either Simpson or Russell must be ready to shine by September. 3. Brian Kelly (LSU) Did you get your digs in at Kelly, when LSU failed to make the playoff while Freeman rallied Notre Dame to the national championship game? Hope you enjoyed it, because Kelly loaded up for a chance at the last laugh. Kelly signed the nation's best transfer class. That haul includes top-rung defensive line and secondary additions, necessary personnel tasked with jumpstarting a defense that's been too feeble for too long. The Tigers return the SEC's most proven quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier. They're set at receiver. A retooled offensive line must perform, but this is Kelly's best shot at a title since coming to LSU. The national title window slowly closes on Kelly, 63. It's not closed yet. 2. Dan Lanning (Oregon) The combination of Lanning plus NIL at 'Nike U.' have been quite good for Oregon. The Ducks went 25-3 the past two seasons. Much like Day, this feels like a matter of when, not if, the 38-year-old Lanning will win a national championship. No coach of a playoff-qualifying team signed a better transfer class than Lanning. He paired those additions with a top-five recruiting class. Oregon looks like a near lock for the playoff. Its national championship pursuit hinges on whether UCLA transfer Dante Moore, Oregon's backup quarterback last season, replicates the production of predecessors Dillon Gabriel and Bo Nix. 1. Steve Sarkisian (Texas) Nobody better positioned himself to join the list of national champions than Sarkisian. Texas is back, folks. No more sarcasm in that statement after the Longhorns reached the College Football Playoff semifinals in consecutive seasons. Like Day, Sarkisian magnetizes talent. Coaches who consistently build elite rosters – see Nick Saban, Kirby Smart – give themselves the most opportunities for a national championship. That brings us to Sarkisian. A recruiting maestro, he signed the nation's No. 1-ranked class to pair with an enviable roster led by quarterback Arch Manning. Sarkisian proved himself an excellent quarterback developer. Add in Texas' NIL war chest, and Sarkisian positioned the Longhorns to be an annual contender. The possibility of an NFL return rests in the backdrop of Sarkisian's tenure, but, even if that happens, Sarkisian might deliver a national championship before he departs. Ohio State, Texas, Oregon and Georgia rank among the favorites to win this next national championship. So, who will turn three into four? Sarkisian, Lanning, or … maybe no one, for a while. Between Day, Smart and Swinney, they've got a chance to crowd out the contenders vying to join their exclusive club. Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@ and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. Subscribe to read all of his columns.
