When Alex English scored the most points in a season, it wasn’t because of his skill on the court. He’s arguably one of the best players ever to play but he was only able to score so many points as a result of being surrounded by great teammates and having an unselfish system that put him in open areas for easy shots.
The “alex english hall of fame” is a class in which the player with the most points in any given season is inducted. The “James Worthy Needed 8 Words to Explain Why Alex English Scored More Points Than Any Other Player in the 1980s” article discusses why English scored so many points.
Some NBA players possess a level of dominance in scoring that defies logic and explanation. In the current game, Kevin Durant is possibly the finest illustration of this concept. Former Denver Nuggets star Alex English, as former Los Angeles Lakers great James Worthy once remarked, had that transcendent offensive skill, and he had it in spades.
English has a reputation for being one of the league’s most underappreciated players. Worthy and his fellow wing defenders, on the other hand, were well aware of the Hall of Famer’s abilities. He was just too much for them to handle.
In the 1985 Western Conference Finals, James Worthy and the Lakers faced Alex English and the Nuggets.
Both photographs courtesy of Focus on Sport/Getty Images. James Worthy (L) and Alex English (R)
In the 1984 NBA Finals, James Worthy committed a vital blunder that helped the Boston Celtics win the Los Angeles Lakers, and it’s a memory that still causes him night sweats over 40 years later. Worthy and the Lakers, on the other hand, sought atonement in 1985.
During the 1984-85 season, the Purple and Gold won 62 games. In his third season, Worthy improved his scoring average from 14.5 points in 1983-84 to 17.6 points in 1984-85.
Worthy was also unstoppable in the playoffs. In a first-round sweep of the Phoenix Suns, he scored 18.7 points on 68.8% shooting before averaging 19.4 points per game on 57.6% shooting in the conference semifinals against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Lakers prepared to face Alex English and a high-powered Nuggets squad that led the NBA in scoring during the 1984-85 season after dispatching their first two playoff opponents. During the regular season, English was unstoppable, averaging 27.9 points on 51.8 percent shooting.
As the Lakers attempted to return to the Finals, Denver put them to the test. Worthy, for one, had no clue how he was going to control English.
Worthy prayed for divine intervention to help him protect English.
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In the 1985 Western Conference Finals, Worthy was tasked with protecting English as the Lakers’ starting wing. Big Game James said he’d need supernatural intervention.
During the series, reporters questioned Worthy about his defensive approach against English. No approach, according to Worthy (via The Athletic), could keep the Nuggets star in control, and he’d need divine intervention.
“Before the game, say a couple of prayers.”
–James Worthy (1985) on how he intended to handle Alex English’s protection.
Perhaps LA should have entrusted English’s defense to Michael Cooper, whom Larry Bird famously described as the only player capable of genuinely protecting him. It’s unlikely that it would have made a difference.
Worthy and the Lakers demolished the Nuggets in five games, winning the series. It wasn’t, however, English’s fault. On 51.1 percent shooting, the eight-time All-Star averaged 30.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. His 40-point performance in Game 2 gave Denver the home-court edge for a short moment before the Lakers swept the Nuggets the rest of the way.
Regardless, Worthy’s previous assessment explains English’s exceptional scoring ability and overall offensive abilities.
In the 1980s, English outperformed Larry Bird and all others.
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Did you know that throughout the 1980s, Larry Bird did not lead the NBA in scoring? No, Alex English is the rightful owner of that title.
English scored 21,018 points in the 1980s, about 2,000 points higher than Moses Malone, according to StatMuse. In terms of scoring average, he trails Adrian Dantley (26.5), Dominque Wilkins (26.0), and George Gervin (26.0) — English averaged 25.9 points. English, on the other hand, played hundreds of games more than all three guys, which adds to his credentials given that he was in his mid-30s at the conclusion of the decade and might have easily faded.
Klay Thompson and others have expressed disappointment at not being selected for the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, but English’s absence may be the most devastating. He is regarded as one of the top scorers in league history, as well as an inspiration to Reggie Miller and a slew of other players.
Despite this, James Worthy and others who played against English realized they couldn’t stop him. Perhaps it is more important than any position on an artificial and subjective list.
Unless otherwise stated, all stats are courtesy of Basketball Reference.
RELATED: In the old NBA, James Worthy said that Dennis Rodman would destroy modern-day tough guy Draymond Green: ‘Dennis Would Eat Him Alive.’
“Alex English was the best basketball player in the 1980s. He scored more points than any other player in the league, but he needed only 8 words to explain why.” Reference: alex english teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Alex English known for?
A: English is best known as a broadcaster and author. He was the original voice of Monday Night Football in 1962, becoming one of the earliest voices on television to use play-by-play commentary in sports broadcasts. In his broadcast work he coined such phrases as Touch em all and let God sort em out, an early reference to steroids which became popular during baseballs steroid era.
What did James Worthy do?
A: James Worthy is an American basketball player and coach. He was a standout at the University of Texas before playing 15 seasons in the NBA with six different teams, winning two NBA championships and one Finals MVP award.
Does Alex English have a ring?
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