Congratulations: 𝗨𝗡𝗖  Favorite 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘’𝘀 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀, 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 basketball 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲… 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲

Congratulations: 𝗨𝗡𝗖  Favorite 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘’𝘀 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀, 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 basketball 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲… 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 👇

A thunderous round of applause is in order for one of the University of North Carolina’s most iconic legends—**James Worthy**—who has just been named to **TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports**. The announcement has sent waves through the sports community, as fans and fellow athletes alike celebrate the recognition of a man whose impact continues to resonate across generations.

James Worthy, affectionately known as “Big Game James,” made his mark early with an unforgettable college career at UNC. Under the guidance of legendary coach Dean Smith, Worthy helped lead the Tar Heels to a **national championship in 1982**, playing alongside future NBA stars like Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins. His fierce competitiveness, clutch performances, and poised leadership were a driving force behind UNC’s success during that era. His performance in the championship game earned him the **Most Outstanding Player** award and sealed his status as one of college basketball’s all-time greats.

But Worthy’s influence didn’t stop there. After being selected as the **No. 1 overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft** by the Los Angeles Lakers, he went on to become an integral part of the Showtime Lakers dynasty. Alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Worthy won **three NBA championships** and was named **NBA Finals MVP** in 1988. His explosive scoring ability, unmatched agility for his size, and basketball IQ made him a nightmare for defenders and a hero for Lakers fans.

Beyond his playing days, Worthy has continued to shape the sports world as a **broadcaster, mentor, and advocate for youth development**. His insightful commentary, calm demeanor, and deep understanding of the game have earned him a respected voice in sports media. More importantly, his off-court work with community programs and mentorship initiatives has cemented his legacy as a role model and humanitarian.

Being named to **TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports** is not just a nod to Worthy’s playing career—it is a tribute to the full arc of his journey: from a humble star in Gastonia, North Carolina, to a basketball legend, and now a beacon of inspiration for future generations. His story is one of excellence, perseverance, and service.