Dennis Rodman Says Lakers Hall of Famer James Worthy Was His Hardest Matchup
dennis-rodman-james-worthy-toughest-matchup
NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, celebrated for his defensive prowess with the Detroit Pistons’ “Bad Boys” of the late 1980s, has identified former Los Angeles Lakers forward James Worthy as the most difficult player he ever had to guard.
Rodman made the remark during a recent live stream with influencer Neon. Asked to name his toughest assignment, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year answered immediately: “James Worthy from the Lakers. Always him.”
Worthy, inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003, played a central role in the Lakers’ “Showtime” era alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The 6-foot-9 forward was named to seven All-Star Games and earned two All-NBA selections, but teammates and opponents often note that his individual statistics could have been greater had he not embraced a team-first role.
Showtime vs. Bad Boys
The Lakers and Pistons met in consecutive NBA Finals—1988 and 1989—creating one of the league’s fiercest rivalries outside the storied Lakers-Celtics battles. Worthy’s signature moment came in Game 7 of the 1988 Finals, when he turned in the first triple-double ever recorded in a deciding Finals game: 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. That performance secured the Lakers’ fifth championship of the decade and earned Worthy the Finals MVP trophy—at Rodman’s expense.
Rodman’s acknowledgment is notable given the caliber of scorers he routinely confronted, including Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins. Calling Worthy his most challenging matchup underscores the former Laker’s combination of size, speed and skill in the open floor.
Pelinka Praises Rookie Adou Thiero’s Role Model
In other Lakers news, general manager Rob Pelinka said he is pleased that second-round draft pick Adou Thiero intends to model his game after New York Knicks wing OG Anunoby. Los Angeles selected the Arkansas forward with hopes he can develop into an elite perimeter defender.
The comments came as the franchise continues to prioritize two-way versatility—an attribute Worthy embodied during his 12-season career in purple and gold.
Source: Lakers Nation
