James Worthy

…them, including Michael Jordan and James Worthy, went on to become standouts in the NBA. Others, such as Larry Brown and Roy Williams, became renowned coaches at the collegiate or professional level. Smith was also known for his strong commitment to racial integration, becoming one of the first white coaches…

…Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and (from 1982) James Worthy to take the Lakers to eight appearances in the NBA Finals over the following decade, resulting in five NBA championships (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988). This era became known as ‘‘Showtime,” not only for the flamboyant, often spectacular playing style orchestrated by…