James Worthy

“Playing with Kareem was a lesson in professionalism.”

“Magic Johnson was the best player I ever played with.”

“The two top teams with the best records should be in the playoffs, regardless of what division they're in.”

“I wasn't a vocal leader. I was more of a leader by example.”

“When you're a young player, you're not thinking about the big picture. You're just trying to make it to the next day.”

“I think the most important thing for a player is to have a short memory, good or bad.”

“My father was a minister, so I was always in church. I was a good kid.”

“Everybody is a role player. The only difference is the size of the role.”

“You have to have a certain amount of arrogance to be a great player.”

“Pat Riley, he was a master motivator. He knew how to push your buttons.”

“There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out. There’s no such thing as life in-between.”

“There were a lot of expectations and a lot of pressure on me, and I was a young player who was only 22.”

“I always felt that I had to leave a legacy, and I had to hold up my end of the bargain.”

“I just tried to be a sponge and soak up as much as I could from the veterans.”