James Worthy is a retired professional basketball player who played his entire career for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. Born on February 27, 1961, in Gastonia, North Carolina, he was known for his exceptional skills as a forward. Worthy was a key player during the Lakers' "Showtime" era, helping the team win three championships in the 1980s. Worthy was selected as the first overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft. He was a six-time NBA All-Star and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. His contributions to the game have made him a celebrated figure in basketball history.