Los Angeles Lakers fans remember when Kurt Rambis started over James Worthy right?
Come on, you remember Kurt Rambis? He was the guy that spent most of his 14 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers, winning championships in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988 as part of the famous “Showtime” teams.
The overachieving underdog and ultimate team-player that endeared real and casual fans alike. Magic Johnson was known for electrifying crowds. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was known for the skyhook. Byron Scott would dunk on you while Michael Cooper was the lockdown defender.
Rambis was the effort player willing to do the “dirty work” while his teammates flew down the court on the fast break grabbing the headlines and accolades.
Then there was James Worthy. The No. 1 pick out of the University of North Carolina. All the talent in the world with a baseline spin post move that no one in NBA history could match.
Worthy was more talented, more athletic and was just plain better than Rambis.
Guess who started for the majority of the seasons the two played together? Spoiler alert, it wasn’t Worthy.
Kurt Rambis was in the starting lineup for many years before Worthy eventually took over as the starter when Rambis got older. But you better believe that Worthy finished the games in crunch time.
NBA fans get caught up in who starts the game when they should be focused on who plays in crunch time. Dwight Howard struggles at the free throw line. If he can’t knock them down, sit him. If JaVale McGee misses key defensive rotations, tell him to have a seat next to Lionel Hollins so he can get the riot act.
It will be interesting to see what happens at the end of training camp, but when the season starts, it makes sense for Dwight Howard to start.