Worthy was a stand-out basketball player for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and a key member of that school's 1982 NCAA championship team. In that year's championship game against the Georgetown Hoyas, Worthy's freshman teammate, Michael Jordan, made the final shot to give North Carolina the lead. On Georgetown's subsequent possession, Worthy stole the ball to seal the Tar Heels' victory.

Worthy was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers as the first overall pick of the 1982 NBA Draft. As a Laker, he contributed to three NBA championships in 1985, 1987, and 1988. He was best known for his one-handed "Statue of Liberty" slam dunk. Although lesser known than teammates Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, his teammates have regarded him as an important part of the Lakers' success. As the recipient of Magic's dazzling passes, he was a great finisher due his ability to glide seemingly effortlessly through the air to the basket. He was a member of the 1983 NBA all-rookie team (unanimous choice). His 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assist in Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals earned him Most Valuable Player. He began wearing eye goggles after suffering a severe eye injury during the 1984-1985 season.

Nicknamed by longtime Lakers color commentator Chick Hearn as "Big Game James", Worthy played in 926 NBA games, had a career field goal percentage of .521, and averaged 17.6 points per game (21.1 points per playoff game). He was a first-ballot inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. His jersey (#42) was retired by the Los Angeles Lakers after his retirement.

As of the 2005-2006 NBA season, Worthy works as a color commentator for Lakers game telecasts and highlights on KCAL and KCBS television stations in Los Angeles. He also has been senior vice president of RP & Associates, a marketing company in Hermosa Beach, California, since February of 2005.

Awards

• All-NBA Third Team twice (1990, '91)
• NBA All-Rookie Team (1983) as he averaged 13.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game
• NBA Finals MVP (1988)
• NBA All-Star seven times (1986-92)
• All-time record for highest field goal percentage in a five-game series (.721) (1985)
• Highest field goal percentage for a rookie in Laker history (.579)
• Averaged 17.6 ppg and 5.1 rpg and 3.0 apg in 926 career games; averaged 21.1 ppg and 5.2 rpg in 143 career playoff games
• In Laker history, he is fifth in scoring (16,320 points), second in steals (1,041) and sixth in field goal percentage (.521)
• Retired as the 54th leading scorer in NBA history with 16,320 points
• One of seven Lakers to have his number (#42) retired
• NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time team (1996)