who is the better player? James Worthy or Dominique Wilkins?

Answer 1

This is a great question.

Worthy was a better player in college. Worthy was the tournament MVP the year Jordan hit the game winning shot against Georgetown in the NCAA finals (1982, Jordan was a frosh, Worthy was a Junior).

Worthy was a great leaper, but Wilkins was spectactular in that area. At the forward position, Wilkins was as good an 'in game' dunker as has ever played the game. (and yes, Wilkins got ROBBED in that slam dunk contest against Jordan..the one held in CHICAGO).

I most remember 'Nique for his shootout with Larry Bird in the Boston Garden during game 7 of the 1988 east conference semi finals... Wilkins scored 16 points in the 4th Qtr of game 7, but Bird topped that, with 20 pts in the 4th Qtr... Wilkins scored 47 in that game, won by the Celtics, 118-116. (Bird scored 34).

I disagree with a previous post about their shooting abilities... I think Wilkins was a better outside shooter than Worthy, and was also better at creating his shots... Worthy was not nearly as good as Wilkins when it came to putting the ball on the floor and creating something.

Worthy was every bit the finisher on fast breaks that Wilkins was, but early in his career, Worthy could be intimidated by physical play (esp by the Celtics)...I never saw Wilkins act intimidated on the court.

Worthy was a better defensive player, and later in his career he would often be assigned to Larry Bird on defense (after the Lakers got Mychal Thompson in 1987, the Lakers switched from having Worthy try to guard McHale to having Thompson guard Mchale... Worthy was no match for McHale when McHale had the ball).

Worthy entered the NBA in the 1982-83 season...he picked the best possible time to post his first career triple-double... 36 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 7 against Detroit in the 1988 finals...the Lakers that year became the first team to repeat since the 68 and 69 Celtics.

Worthy did, for the most part, elevate the level of his play in the post season (although, as a Laker fan, I can still see him throwing the ball away in the 1984 finals vs Boston, Gerald Henderson 'stole the ball' and the Lakers lose in OT). But he learned not to make that mistake again.

I agree that the Lakers would have probably had about the same success had they acquired Wilkins instead of Worthy. That year (1982) the top 3 players in the draft were Worthy, Wilkins and Terry Cummings... Worthy was thought to be kind of a cross between Cummings and Wilkins... he had almost the athleticism of Wilkins, but was also, at 6-9, had a power game similar to Cummings... But Worthy had just won an NCAA title (Dean Smith's first) and was MVP of the tournament, so there was no way any one else was going first in THAT draft.

When it comes down to it, both probably should have been top 50 when the team was selected in 1996. I don't know why Wilkins wasn't selected... Worthy benefited greatly from joining a team with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. But he also became a great contributor to that team in his own right.

I guess the question of who's better depends on the needs of your team... but Wilkins was a star from day one, while Worthy took a while to show us everything he could do.

Despite being a Laker fan and having all the respect in the world for what Worthy meant to my team, I'm going to say that Wilkins was, out of context, a better basketball player.

Answer 2

That is a very good question. Dominique was definitely very exciting to watch. He known as the "human highlight film" But Big Game James Worthy would get my vote. Basketball is a team sport, and James Worthy is the consumate team player. I'm certain Magic Johnson would agree.

Answer 3

Wilkins was better. James was very quick but really did not have a lot of skill. Wilkins was quick and could jump out of the gym. Plus, he had a better outside shot. If Wilkins had played with Magic and this would not even be a question anyone would ask.

Answer 4

This one's tough to answer. It would've been interesting to know how well nique woul've done had he been with the Lakers instead of James, and vice versa. I'd have to go with Dominique Wilkins, that guy was a warrior and in my opinion is the most underrated player in league history. But much love to Big Game James, he was one of the greatest.

Answer 5

Gotta go with Big Game James. He was a better shooter,scorer,and all around player than Dominique. C'mon he was NBA finals MVP 1988 getting a tripple double in the clinching game of that series. However i still think Dominique was a great player and I'm glad that he's finally gong into the Hall this year.

Answer 6

I am a longtime Hawks fan and I would still rather have James Worthy.Nique was a great scorer but he put up a crapload of shots.He would have 30 points and shoot 13 of 40 or so.He would not have been allowed such freedom to shoot with the Lakers.
He was really the only scorer the hawks had for many years.
Worthy was a better all around players with a better complementary game Wilkins had too many high and lows for my liking.

Answer 7

I think when you say better player you have to be specific.
Does better mean, winning or being popular.

If winning...

James Worthy was a winner, winning several championship with the Lakers and being named finals MVP in one of those championship. One of the nucleus of that running and scoring machine known as the "SHOWTIME LAKERS" He played for 10 years in the NBA.

If popularity...

Nique is well known as the "human higlight film" dunking his way to the heart of the fans. He has posterized a lot of big men trying to stop him attack the rack. He is perhaps well known for dueling with Jordan in that epic dunk contest that the later won. Some folks today still debate whether or not the award was stolen from him. The last time I saw him play he was wearing a spurs jersey (1999, i think), running down the lane for a vicious put back and to think he was in his late 30's at that time. He didn't get even close at being a championship contender sad to say.

Answer 8

Good question. Worthy played on a very good team, bit Dominique carried the Hawks for a lot of years, gotta go with Niq', the human highlight.

Answer 9

I liked both players. Dominique had more flash, but James had a more complete game.

Answer 10

No contest. James Worthy is the best small forward to ever play the game. Inside and outside, nobody could stop him. He was big strong fast athletic, great leaper, great finisher quick, fast very good defender. extremely under-rated. He sacrificed his game and number of shot attempts because of Kareem, Magic, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper etc