Pat Riley points out how fighting off James Worthy trade paid off for Lakers: “There's Bird and there's Wilkins, but there isn't anybody better in his position”

James Worthy made his mark with the Los Angeles Lakers, the only team he played for when he joined the NBA in 1982. But like most players, the name of the North Carolina product wasn't spared from potential trade scenarios.

The 6-foot-9 forward was almost traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1986 . This was after the Lakers were booted out of the playoffs after losing to the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Finals. The planned trade cropped up despite Worthy's credible showing. He averaged 20.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 75 regular-season games. Moreover, Worthy even figured in the Most Valuable Player race that season, finishing 12th.

The Lakers would have acquired Mark Aguirre from the Mavericks if it had gone through. One person who was not keen on this trade scenario was then-Lakers coach Pat Riley .

Worthy is worthy

That trade never happened, and Worthy continued playing for the Lakers. He maintained his averages and even stepped up when it mattered most, a glimpse of which occurred during the 1988 playoffs.

Ironically, one of those moments happened against the Mavericks. The Mavs and the Lakers were tense rivals in the 1988 Western Conference. The series went the full route, with LA winning the deciding Game 7, 117-102.

'Big Game James' led the Lakers in that game, finishing with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. He was a crucial player in that game. Riley was also vindicated, justifying why he was against the Worthy for Maguire trade.

"There's Bird and there's Wilkins, but there isn't anybody better in his position," Riles said via the New York Times . "I don't care how many times you think we should have traded him for Tarpley and Aguirre...' They happen to be on vacation now and he's taken us again to the final," the veteran coach added.

Third title is a charm

It's also worth noting that the top pick of the 1982 Draft was already part of two Lakers championship teams. He was a proven player, so trading him for Magic Johnson's friend (Mark Aguirre) hardly made sense. Worthy proved that in the 1988 NBA Finals. He was the best player for the Lakers in the finals, averaging 22.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 38 minutes of action in seven games.

However, his monster triple-double performance in Game 7 against the Pistons in the Finals stood out. He scored a game-high 36 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and issued 10 assists in that crucial game. That earned him the Finals MVP award, a fitting exclamation point on questions about his craft. It would be the last NBA title of his career.

Worthy continued playing at a high level until 1990 with LA. However, a severe ankle injury in the 1991 playoffs and season-ending knee surgery in 1992 took their toll on the North Carolina native.

With much of his quickness and leaping ability gone, James retired in November 1994. It was a memorable 12 seasons for Worthy, whose decorated resume was enough to include him in the league's 50th and 75th anniversary teams.

Related: "When I felt myself not wanting to do that anymore, I knew it was the end for me" - James Worthy on why he retired from basketball