Net Worth Ranker
What Is James Worthy’s Net Worth?
James Worthy, a retired American professional basketball player, has accumulated a net worth of $8 million. This wealth is primarily a result of his successful career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and subsequent ventures.
James Worthy’s NBA Earnings and Career Highlights
During his 12 seasons in the NBA, James Worthy earned a total salary of $11.85 million. His highest-paid season was 1992-1993, his second-to-last season, where he earned $1.85 million playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. To put this into perspective, $1.85 million in 1992 is equivalent to approximately $3.5 million in today’s dollars. Worthy was a key player for the Lakers from 1982 to 1994, contributing significantly to their success during the “Showtime” era.
Worthy’s career is marked by three NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s. His standout performance in the 1988 NBA Finals earned him the NBA Finals MVP award. In that series against the Detroit Pistons, Worthy averaged 22 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. In the decisive Game 7, he recorded a triple-double with 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, solidifying his place in Lakers’ history.
Prior to his NBA career, Worthy played college basketball at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. In 1982, he helped lead the Tar Heels to the NCAA championship title. Worthy was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player for his performance during the tournament.
In the 1982 NBA draft, Worthy was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. During his rookie season, he averaged 13.4 points per game and had a .579 field goal percentage. Unfortunately, a broken leg cut his season short in April of that year. However, he returned strong for the 1983-84 season, contributing to the Lakers’ journey to the NBA Finals, where they faced the Boston Celtics. Worthy’s skills and speed quickly made him a fan favorite.
The Lakers faced the Boston Celtics again in the 1985 NBA Finals and emerged victorious in six games. In 1986, Worthy earned his first of seven consecutive All-Star selections. During the 1987-88 regular season, Worthy averaged 19.7 points per game, achieving a career-high of 38 points against the Atlanta Hawks. He continued to excel in the playoffs, leading the Lakers in scoring.
During the 1989 NBA Finals rematch between the Lakers and the Pistons, Worthy scored a career-high 40 points in the fourth and final game. The Lakers finished the next season leading the NBA with a 63-19 record, but unfortunately lost to the Phoenix Suns in the Conference semifinals. Worthy took the team back to the NBA Finals in 1991; however, the Chicago Bulls won the championship in five games. Sadly, injuries started to plague Worthy, eventually leading to his retirement in 1994 after 12 seasons in the NBA.
Post-NBA Career and Other Ventures
After retiring from professional basketball, Worthy transitioned into broadcasting and analysis. He became a studio basketball analyst for Time Warner Cable SportsNet, contributing to “Access SportsNet” pregame and postgame shows. Additionally, he served as an NBA analyst for Los Angeles’s KCBS-TV. In 2015, Worthy rejoined the Lakers organization to work with the coaching staff. These roles have contributed to his income and maintained his presence in the basketball community.
In 1997, James Worthy purchased a home in Bel Air, Los Angeles, for $945,000. He later sold this property in 2015 for a little over $2 million, which demonstrates a successful real estate investment during his post-playing career. Worthy’s financial strategies beyond his NBA salary have played a significant role in maintaining and growing his net worth.
