James Worthy is pushing back against claims that LeBron James failed to meet expectations during his eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The three-time NBA champion defended James while speaking with TMZ Sports at Derek Fisher’s Be Better Foundation golf outing.
Worthy pointed to the difficult stretch the Lakers endured before James arrived in 2018 and said his impact should not be dismissed simply because Los Angeles won only one championship during his tenure.
“For what he did for L.A. while he was here, I don’t think you can argue,” Worthy said.
Worthy Says the Lakers Were in ‘Misery’ Before James Arrived
The Lakers had missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons when James signed with the franchise in July 2018. Their decline included a 17-win season in 2015-16, the worst record in team history at the time. Worthy described the organization’s condition before James as “misery.”
Although the Lakers missed the playoffs during James’ injury-shortened first season, his arrival helped make Los Angeles a destination for other stars. The Lakers acquired Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019 and won the NBA championship the following season.
Worthy Refuses to Dismiss the 2020 ‘Bubble Ring’
James and Davis led the Lakers to the 2020 championship after the NBA resumed its season at Walt Disney World following a suspension caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Los Angeles defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets before beating the Miami Heat in six games in the NBA Finals.
James averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists during the Finals while shooting 59.1% from the field. He received his fourth championship and fourth Finals MVP award. Critics have continued describing the title as a “bubble ring” because the postseason was played at a neutral site without ordinary travel or home crowds. Worthy said he would not use those circumstances to diminish the championship.
The Hall of Famer, who won three titles with the Showtime Lakers and earned Finals MVP honors in 1988, argued that sustained dynasties are increasingly difficult to build in the modern NBA. The Lakers did not return to the Finals after 2020, but they reached the Western Conference Finals in 2023 and recorded three seasons with at least 50 victories during James’ tenure.
James Broke Historic Records in a Lakers Uniform
James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer on Feb. 7, 2023, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during a home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. By the end of his Lakers tenure, James had scored 43,440 career points and climbed to fourth place on the league’s career assists list with 12,016. He also set NBA records with 22 All-Star selections and 21 All-NBA honors.
Eight of those All-Star appearances and seven of the All-NBA selections came during his time in Los Angeles. Worthy previously told TMZ Sports that James could eventually receive statues in both Cleveland and Los Angeles. In 2023, he argued that delivering a Lakers championship and breaking Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record in the city made the possibility difficult to dismiss.
James Said He Hoped He Made Lakers Fans Proud
No, THANK YOU! Truly a honor to wear the 💜💛 while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint. 🙏🏾🫡👑 https://t.co/RmQ6uvvgv0
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 30, 2026
After the Lakers publicly thanked him, James said it had been an honor to wear the franchise’s purple and gold colors while attempting to continue the legacies established by its previous stars. “Hope I made a few proud during my stint,” he wrote.
The 41-year-old has since announced that he will join the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million contract that includes a player option. He will enter his record-extending 24th NBA season after saying he seriously considered retirement before deciding to pursue another championship.