[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Who would you say had the better overall career of these two? Both were huge pieces on legendary teams in the same era but neither was the true main guy on their respective teams. Both probably sacrificed some individual numbers for team success. Both are HOFs who will be known as two of the greatest overall sidekicks of all-time but played with bigger individual stars. Here are the numbers for their careers:

Worthy: 17.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3 apg, 1.1 spg, 52.1 FG%, 17.7 PER (1982-1994)

7 time all-star, 1988 Finals MVP, All-NBA 3rd team (1989,1990) 3X NBA champion

McHale: 17.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 55.4 FG%, 20.0 PER (1980-1993)

7 time all-star, 3x all-defensive first team, 3x all-defensive 2nd team, 1987 All-NBA first team 3X NBA champion

Worthy was known as one of the best transition players of all-time. He also had some of the deadliest face up moves in the mid-post of any player ever. He was also a versatile defender who could defend multiple postions and an underrated passer, although he was never really a great rebounder for a player his size and never a great outside shooter.

McHale was known as one of the greatest post players ever and ran a clinic on helpless opponents on the block in his prime. He was the better rebounder than worthy and more accomplished defender in terms of accolades, even if he was slightly less versatile. He reached his peak individually in 1987, but was never quite the same after a broken foot suffered during that season.

Its hard to tell what either of these guys could have done in in their prime if they were the true go-to-guys on their teams. I’m not sure if worthy ever reached the level individually that McHale did in 1987 but who would you say had the better overall career and why?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[r377Participant]

 I would prob take Mchale.  He was a better defender and good in the post.

Worthy played in the Lakers fast pace system.  James had one of the best spin moves in the 80s.

Both had very good FG percentage

 

 

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

 HaHa. Most of the Times when someone post a who was better poll.I quickly come up with an answer. But this 1 is very difficult. Becuz of their versatility, both guys would be top 10 players in today’s game..McHale had 3 point range and was the better rebounder.  Their career stats in fg% and scoring were almost similar. McHale to me along with Olajuwon & Gasol had the best post moves of all time. Worthy sometimes displayed a spin move in the post that left defenders flat footed.Like u mentioned both players were surrounded by all time greats. Despite that, they  both were still top 50 all time players. Big Game James really elevated his game in the playoffs. To me it’s almost a tie. But after long deliberation McHale has a slight edge.

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

 Despite playing with with Magic & Kareem there was a couple of times during the playoffs.Worthy was their go to guy and best player.  

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 True. In Kareem’s last few years and after he retired they ran a lot of their half court offense through worthy.

[cohenbc1Participant]

 Slight edge to Worthy for the same reason I’d give the slight edge to Magic over Bird … because even though both teams were legendary the Lakers did everything just a little better.

It’s hard to compare either guy to modern players because you just don’t see their styles of play much anymore. McHale was huge and not very mobile but ridiculously skilled. He’s maybe like a bigger Horford who looked to score more?

And Worthy was a tall, quick wing who didn’t shoot beyond 20 feet but relentlessly attacked his man and was one of the best cutter/slashers ever. He and Magic could pretty much communicate telepathically. He was maybe like a rich man’s version of Joe Johnson?

 

[mowestenParticipant]

Worthy would be better suited defensively in the current version of the NBA, but I actually think McHale would be really difficult for modern teams to defend simply because there really aren’t a lot of great post-up guys in the current version of the league and McHale might have been the best. I’m not sure the league is used to guarding players like McHale.

I see this in a totally different level in high school ball where coaches who are looking for an advantage turn to old-school, throw it in the post to a couple of football looking dudes and spend a lot of time teaching entry passes and post play, then go out and kick teams teeth in because no one really knows how to defend in the post.

At some point, some 7-foot kid is going to come along with an attitude of getting nasty and hardcore on the block instead of wanting to be a point guard and is going to dominate the league for some of the same reasons. Just a matter of time.

 

 

 

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 I loved to hate on Mchale, but i secretly always wished he played for my team.

I used to try and mimic Worthys firstvstep growing up.  

 

[jonus grumbyParticipant]

 I think they were both what their team needed.  I think they were both better in the system that they were in.  I don’t think Worthy would have been as affective in Boston and I don’t think McHale would have been as good in LA.  

If I had my choice of either for a 3rd team I think I would take McHale.

 

 

 

[Dell87Participant]

if worthy were the go to guy on those Lakers teams, he would’ve averaged 22-25 pts a game 

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

 I meant during the playoffs . His career playoff averages was 21 puts a game. I think he averaged 24 pts a game twice during those playoffs runs.And 23 points once. 

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