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Los Angeles Lakers: Building the all-time “second best” squad

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Staples Center on March 03, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Staples Center on March 03, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

SF: James Worthy

James Worthy is very similar to Gail Goodrich in terms of his place on the Lakers while he was playing. Worthy, like Goodrich, was the third-best and third most remembered player on a Laker dynasty.

Thus, despite being a Hall of Famer, Worthy never led the Lakers in VORP as it was typically Magic Johnson or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that led the team. Even after Magic’s retirement, Worthy never led the Lakers in VORP, thanks to Vlade Divac and Sedale Threatt.

Worthy is as good as you can get at the small forward position. Worthy won three championships with the Lakers, was a seven-time all-star, two-time All-Pro and was even the NBA Finals MVP in the 1988 NBA Finals.

The 1988 NBA Finals proved just how valuable and important Worthy was to the Showtime Lakers. He averaged 22 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists in that series and scored 36 points in the deciding Game 7 against the Bad Boy Pistons.

Worthy is a forward who could do it all and makes up for some of the size problems. So far, we have two Hall of Famers in just three players — not too shabby.

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