James Worthy is fired up postgame: “Historically The Lakers have had clutch players. Kareem with the sky hook. Magic with his play. Kobe, Shaq. But I don’t think we’ve ever had one as consistent and dominant as Luka Doncic.”
These comments about to question JAMES WORTHY on his Lakers knowledge lol
I mean what gives him credibility? It’s not like he watched every game. /s (I didn’t want to put the s but I’m afraid of others reading comprehension)
He played for the Lakers before TVs and Internet. He has no idea.
He played against plumbers like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan.
Larry was a paver
Exactly
He ducked the plumbers and milkmen allegations, but can’t beat the fact that he played in a league of crackheads and Mob plant refs. Couldn’t hope to survive in the podcaster/Kalshi era.
Big Game James obviously refers to his videogaming skills
I’m convinced it’s propaganda lol
lol, anyone can be victim of recency bias
Luka’s lackadaisical FT hurts him in this discussion
Although he’s been close to perfect this season, he struggled the last two playoffs in “clutch situations”
Did you just include the 24 playoffs too.I guess the wolves game just disappeared
Yup!
It’s one fanbase. Bronsexual gonna Bronsexual.
Always them.
Hm somehow, right or wrong, I’m not taking that from you lol
There’s something wrong with a Nuggets fan making a generalizing comment about a singular fanbase being sycophants towards one particular player that doesn’t sit right here.
Also Bron fans have been in the Laker fandom for 9 years, regardless how some feel about them, they do have a voice.
Love and thankful that LeBron played for the Lakers, but man am I glad his fans will move on from the Lakers once he retires
I mean he is wrong lmao I can name about 10 lakers as good as Luka is right now lol
Offensively you can argue Luka is one of the greatest players ever. He is that good.
You know who else were one of the greatest players ever? West, Baylor, Wilt, Magic, Kareem, Shaq, Kobe, LeBron, even AD has had dominant stretches on par with this.
How many of those guys averaged 33/8/8 on 62% TS in a season?
AD? That’s an unserious answer.
You can argue Luka is a better offensive player than those guys. I’m sure James Worthy is familiar with some of them too.
Using box stats to compare current players vs 2000’s players is certainly a choice.
By that argument, you would rather have him over peak MJ, Lebron, etc as well?
Well peak MJ and Bron have higher OBPM than Luka. Though Luka is 4th behind them and Jokic.
Jesus Christ.
I don’t mind OBPM. It’s prob the best box stat available.
But it’s still not a great stat.
Luka, not once, lead a historical offense when playing.
Kobe has.
Funny enough, Luka lead offense is closer Kobe lead offense in 06, with smush and kwame, than when Kobe had actual NBA players.
Luka with Kyrie as a second option lead a rOTRG of +5.7
without Luka, Dallas was -2.8
Kobe in 06 lead a ROTG of + 5.1
Without Kobe, lakers was -13.8
Box scores can never fully encapsulate an offensive impact a player has,
This is exactly the problem James harden has had too.
Go watch AD in 2023 when he played in 76 games or 2020 AD and come back to me.
Comparing stats across eras is stupid. I can easily argue that Kobe averaging 35 in 06 when the league was far less developed offensively with much worse teammates is more impressive than this Luka season.
You can also argue that all of those players are better all around players on both sides of the ball than Luka. That’s why it’s dumb for of all people James worthy to say this lol you played with 2 top 10 guys all time! Lol
Luka’s career average is higher than AD’s career best, and Luka does far more than play finishing offensively.
AD is not even in the conversation.
Kobe scoring wise was comparable, but Luka’s playmaking is on another level. Offensively Luka is a cheat code.
And honestly Luka plays more on the defensive end when you factor in injuries
Top single season OBPM in Lakers history:
OBPM doesn’t go back before 1973 so it doesn’t include West, Baylor, Wilt, etc.
But still. Luka is up there with the greats.
No you cannot
You’re right I can name 9. West, Baylor, Wilt, Magic, Kareem, Shaq, Kobe, LeBron, AD. I won’t name Mikan since he never played in LA.
I love baylor, but just because he scored a lot in 62 doesn’t mean he was this good. Neither was wilt on the lakers, nor LeBron and probably not AD. Hell, I don’t think Kareem ever had a significant stretch on the lakers as good as Luka has been in 2026, especially how good he is playing rn.
I don’t think you know what you’re talking about man, but maybe we just view things very differently.
Just because Baylor scored a lot in 62 doesn’t mean he’s as good as Luka who scored a lot in 26? Baylor was arguably the best non big man the league had til bird/magic. Lol go back and watch some of the stretches Bron had in 2020 and 2022 and tell me it’s not comparable to what Luka’s doing. Just cuz he doesn’t score 50 a night doesn’t mean he’s not impacting the game as hard or harder. AD as well. His 2022 season he had some monster stretches. This Luka game is probably the best lakers game since AD dropped double nickel on the wizards that season.
I like how you ignored half of the lakers I mentioned cuz you know they all had stretches that cleared Luka currently lol
I think Kobe has had the best stretches of basketball I’ve ever seen. I think shaq against good matchups was the best player of all time. I think magic and West is a conversation (west was good)
I also think Luka is the clutchest player I’ve seen since pre-Achilles Kobe. I don’t really think Baylor/wilt/lebron have arguments. AD in the bubble is one of the best two way players of all time imo so I can see how it’s a convo. Calling Baylor better than Oscar or West is ridiculous btw
Look I get it.
But 2020 playoffs AD might be the best player ever lol
Ok 10 a little bit too far lmao.
Ok 9 to be exact. West, Baylor, Wilt, Magic, Kareem, Shaq, Kobe, LeBron, AD all have had stretches as good as Luka is rn lol
You wanna trade AD back?
!remindme 20 minutes
Just in my lifetime I’ve seen Kobe, Shaq, Lebron hell even AD has had some monster stretches as good as Luka’s right now. Not to mention Magic, Kareem, wilt, West, Baylor lol
Ok Nico Harrison
Lol Nico
He’s probably talking about consistent efficient execution in the clutch. And he’s right. Luka in close games is almost guaranteed at this point. It’s insane.
That’s clearly what he’s talking about lol
All this talk of the Lakers dominant record in clutch time games, look no further than Luka for the reason why
[deleted]
He had one bad month after being escorted out of the birthing room of his new born by police. Luka looked like shit during December right after his daughter was born and was obviously going through it.
You have to give specific games and 4th quarters. It’s easy to make a general statement and he was clutch and has many big shots. I don’t remember this level of consistency in close games almost every time. Lakers clutch record this year is crazy. We almost never lose in tight games.
Isnt the Kobe clutch narrative a bit overblown and LeBron has been more clutch over his career by almost every stat. Obviously this is a post about luka but Kobe isnt even as clutch as LeBron we can leave Kobe out of this
Captain sexual assault lives more in narratives than reality
sure but why are we powerscaling post-grief clutch performances
I think since he gone here, he has been deferring to LeBron. On the Mavs, he knew it was his team and he was the #1 option. After getting traded, he was playing next to the GOAT and I think he didn’t feel comfortable taking that leadership role from LeBron. But in the recent stretch when LeBron was out, the team started playing better and it became clear that they had too many ball handlers and that LeBron was better as the #3 option. I feel like Luka is now playing like it’s his team and for the first time since coming to LA, he is comfortable with embracing that role and being the guy who takes the clutch shots.
I personally think he passed it up because he got the ball kinda off balance and it fucked up his rhythm. I know it sounds odd but sports are weird when it comes to repeatable movements
This is like Keyshawn saying he doesn’t know if he’s ever seen LeBron posterize someone.
“Maybe he has. I don’t remember it”
Yeah, Worthy needs to watch some tape of Magic and Kareem
Bro is on the tape
Literally. These kids talking down big game James is crazy
Was gonna say he’d be literally watching his own games
I guess my sarcasm didn’t come across. It was meant as an obvious joke.
This sub has the reading comprehension of 3rd graders.
And its not a basketball tape
Forgot the /s
Genuinely have to be slow to think that a Lakers flair was serious about that
Worthy’s been watching too many late night Mavericks games, man’s memory is getting selective.
I don’t know, I’ve seen Shaq and Kobe have similar stretches of dominance lol
If he’s talking just about clutch I get it, he has that it factor that every time the ball enters his hands in the clutch you know it’s a bucket
We forgetting about last years playoffs when neither Luka or anyone on the Lakers could score in the clutch and lost 3 straight clutch games, including one where their opponent shot the worst % from 3 in NBA history?
Shaq and Kobe have also completely taken over games. It doesn’t get anymore clutch than that
Why are you getting downvoted for saying the least controversial opinion ever?
80% of the people here werent alive during their era
I was alive and watching during that era. I think Luka takes it.
Because it’s so hilariously inaccurate
Shaq was unplayable in clutch situations at times because of his awful FT shooting and foul troubles.
Kobe did a lot of the heavy lifting there in the clutch
Edit:
I take that back.
Shaq was much better than I thought
Kobe during the three peat in the clutch (playoffs)
32 points per 36 60% TS
Shaq
28 points per 36 53% TS ( 53% FT shooting)
This sub is brain dead
Agreed
The fact that the statement Kobe and Shaq have taken over is downvoted 😂😭
I’ve seen Kobe have more dominant stretches where you know he’s going to make the last 10 shots to close out a game. The thing is, I’ve also seen Kobe shoot the Lakers out of more games than I can count. People just forget about the bad when the good is so ridiculous. I genuinely think most Kobe fans grew up on SportsCenter highlights, not actually watching every Laker game.
Yep. That’s the difference. The games where Luka shot the Lakers/Mavs out of games are far fewer than Kobe’s games. Luka is also a vastly superior passer which adds another dimension to his clutchness.
Prime Kobe was just as efficient a scorer as this year’s Luka. 106 TS+ from 2001-2009. He was also a vastly superior off-ball playmaker and defender.
Your hyperbole is hilarious.
Holy fucking shit. Thank you.
People not understanding nuance in box stats is baffling.
It’s 2026 and Kobe Kids are still alive apparently lmao
Kobe was an amazing passer, just a less willing one.
He was also the better off-ball player by leaps and bounds.
I remember it so clearly. Whenever the media would absolutely rip into Kobe for not passing, he’d get all petulant and spend the next game or two doing nothing but passing. The funny thing is, he was actually a great playmaker when he put his mind to it. But then, by the very next game, he’d be right back to his usual self, firing away like crazy. This happened quite a lot throughout his career.
lmao WTF y’all are wild
Huh? Anyone who saw Kobe play knows he was an exceptional passer. Abilities and willingness are two different things.
No he wasn’t. He tried to one up Nash and he just ended up with more TOs. If Kobe was an above average passer, he’d average more than a career 4.7 APG. He had Shaq, Pau, and Odom in their primes. Holy shit. Those guys especially prime Shaq were automatic assists.
I swear yall literally make shit up and try to make it factual history. No one is claiming Kobe was Steve Nash. I simply said Kobe was an amazing passer, not a willing one. Again, anyone who saw Kobe’s prime knows this. I’m guessing I’m arguing with some teenager. Lol.
That’s the thing. He wasn’t an amazing passer. He was, by all accounts, a mid passer. Not bad, but certainly not amazing. Unless in your world, amazing means mid.
No, amazing means amazing. As in, in the same tier as Luka or Harden. Saying Kobe was crafty and skillful in passing doesn’t mean he was Nash, Harden, or Luka on his willingness to do so (for the nth time).
Kobe led better offenses relative to the league. He literally improved his teammates’ TS% when on the court, by a decent margin over Luka. Thinking Basketball said it was +5% for Kobe and +3.5% for Luka, iirc.
Luka being a better passer doesn’t make up for Kobe’s off-ball game which actually allowed his teammates to touch the ball and make plays.
Whoop ti doo, a whopping 1.5% difference, hooray for Kobe Kids!
Prime Kobe was a 106 TS+ guy, Luka this season is at 107 TS+. There’s virtually no difference in their scoring efficiency. You’re talking out of your ass.
I think you didn’t see shit and are just repeating nonsense you saw online. Kobe and Luka have no significant difference in proper efficiency stats.
This is the thing with kobe… He sometimes turns into a chucker.
You know Luka will always engineer a win some how
Until hacka Shaq broke the momentum
Kinda nice seeing an old head give the newer generation props
I miss Bill Walton
well there was George Mikan
And Travis Knight
And there’s no Mekhi Phifer
This is my life
My, would you look at the time!
And my Axe
True, but Mikan played in the 50s - the game was just so different back then it’s hard to compare eras.
I just know that there’s a man out there with an insecurity that’s big as him is going to take offense with this statement lmao
And he wouldn’t be crazy to disagree here. Prime Shaq is perhaps the single most unstoppable player in NBA history
It has to be only him and Kobe (as closers)
And the guy who drafted Worthy
Social media discourse has really changed how we view players because imagine being so feared in the clutch they called you Mr. Clutch even with losing 9 times in the finals.
Jerry west is who people think Wilt Chaimberlain is he was hustling against those stacked Celtics teams man.
Not Kuzma?
James Worthy forgot about Robert Sacre’s bench celebrations. He was a Laker Legend.
Worthy on the Youngin hype train
Thought this said Youngkin for a second. Virginia politics got me seeing things
The slander and disrespect for Sasha Vujačić
The Machin.
If Shaq could hit free throws then he would have been on Luka’s level, but the fact that he couldn’t do it all is exactly proof that Luka is on another level
If Shaq hits free throws he is in the goat debate and would have maybe 2 rings more
I enjoy listening to James Worthy. Not sure if he tried to pursue one or not but he is highly deserving of a national gig. He is a million times better than Burkley imo.
The way Luka is playing makes me worried they might come out the West, even over OKC.
I think you should be more worried about the alien down south. That team can play elite defense too
The Spurs have been my pick to win it all this whole season. I really believe I got it right this year. Wemby is the most impactful player on any court in my opinion.
West is rough man, a gauntlet
Funny I think Lakers just can’t beat OKC while Spurs can. While I also think Lakers would beat the Spurs.
Lisan Al-Gaib
Build the statue we are so back bros
The amazing thing is that there’s not a single comment pointing out that LeBron was left off this list.
Comments aside, I love seeing an enthusiastic James Worthy. If he’s hyped up, I’m hyped up.
Have we forgotten Kwame Brown?!!
All of a sudden lmao
Clutch player of the year.
F Nico Harrison, that’s all I gotta say
F Niko
Shaq getting mentioned.
😂
lol wtf
Media told me complains some so isn’t a winning player though
Luka has been great, but lets not go crazy and say this is the best season for a Laker ever. That’s just dumb
Offensively consistent
Luka is offensively consistent, and yall stay consistently offended
this is so fucking stupid. comparing Luka to those guys is super disrespectful
james worthy himself played for the lakers his opinion had much more weight than some redditors
Wild. Luka hasn’t won anything.
That’s probably what Adam Silver thought before trading him to the Lakers
A Heat fan saying this after being a beneficiary of LeDecision is really funny.
very big difference between a free agency signing and a straight up trade of “NBA Finals material” Luka Dončic.
Im not surprised by the fact that you’re trying to be so casual about it since your Thunder are the first to benefit from the post-Luka Mavs🙂↔️
LeBron joined with two other All-NBA players to create a super team. You still benefitted from that acquisition the same way the Lakers benefitted from their trade.
The Mavs would at best be the third best team in the West. I’m not worried about Luka leaving other than it made Mavs fans sad which is always good.
2nd in MVP voting
What being educated in Oklahoma does to a mf
He gets paid to say stuff like that. I’d take it with a grain of salt.
He was critical of Luka on many occasions earlier this season. This is notable specifically because Worthy hasn’t used kid gloves with Luka. He’s been a straight shooter, and at times I think overly critical.
Worthy was literally on camera heard talking shit about the Lakers while preparing for a live segment, he’s a goat for being real
Brother he spent the entire month of December shitting on Luka and calling him an empty stats player lol.
Exactly. He gets paid to say what he’s supposed to say when he’s supposed to say it. 🤷🏽♂️
He was getting paid to call his franchise player empty stats?
He gets paid to get reactions.
settle down unc
Are we actually doing this again? 2023, 2024 and 2025? Hyping up the Lakers after everyone has seen all year the clear issues with this roster? So when they bomb out in the post season again, I don’t want to hear excuses
Why lie? No one is hyping them in the wb era or when they started 2-10 the following year. They also projected 6 seeds in the off season?
They are projected to have 46 to 51 wins
They had a 46.5 over/under win total at the start of the season. They were projected as a play-in team
Thunder were 62.5, rockets were 54.5, nuggets were 53.5, wolves were 50.5, clippers were 49.5, GSW were 47.5.
They are getting “hyped up” by most to be second round exits. Nobody is hyping them up with the thunder and the spurs as clear favorites.
They have flaws still but a lot of people had them inferior to the Nuggets/Wolves/Rockets which they are clearly not.
Because they’re inferior to the nuggets and the Wolves
3-0 vs the Wolves this season the only close game was when Luka and Lebron didn’t play 🤷♂️ if you think the Lakers roster is flawed, the Wolves and Rockets are worse. Inferior to Denver? maybe if the Nuggets are healthy but they haven’t been for quite some time now.
In what case?
Wolves are 0-3 to them.
Nuggets are 1-2.
That’s delusional. I wouldn’t be surprised if they lose a series to the Nuggets, but the Wolves haven’t done anything this season to warrant that level of respect. They’re absolutely inferior to the Spurs and OKC, though.
Kobe led the team to 5 rings. Maybe let’s finish the first season of Luka on the Lakers before we start saying some bullshit.
Look, I love Kobe but this is a nephew comment
Kobe did no such thing.
He led them to 2
Shaq was the other 3
Lmao at this discourse for a zero ring, zero MVP regular season hero
Can’t wait to see this fat guy get his annual cooking in the playoffs
The fat guy is you looking in the mirror
Why would he be in my bathroom?
How do you live with so much hate in your life, so much hate that completly blinds you? This “regular season hero” is a playoff riser and the 2nd most PPG in the playoffs after MJ… And he did it on pretty bad teams apart from the one they went to the finals, a team that even then was never rly the favourites apart from the 1st round…
Weird is that what you make of your last banner?
So u won against a fat guy who regularly gets cooked? Mickey mouse ring? Just as i expected good to hear it directly from C fans.
So u won against a fat guy who regularly gets cooked?
You got it. Hunting fat Luka was a wildly successful strategy for the 24 Celtics
Yeah sure cause you guys didn’t score more than 111 the entire series bro…
Yep mickey mouse, beat a bum after all. Cant beat any real teams after that
beat a bum
Glad we see it the same way
He made it to the Finals and his co-star was a flat Earther (still is).