James Worthy, born in 1961 in Gastonia, North Carolina, is a retired American professional basketball player best known for his career with the Los Angeles Lakers. At the University of North Carolina, he won a National Championship and was Most Outstanding Player. He was first overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft by the Lakers. Worthy quickly became an essential part of the "Showtime" era, known for his speed, smooth scoring ability, and clutch performances in big moments-earning him the nickname Big Game James. During his twelve seasons with the Lakers, Worthy won three NBA championships (1985, 1987, 1988) and was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1988. He was a seven-time All-Star with his #42 jersey being retired by the Lakers. His contributions earned him a spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003, as well as recognition on the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. After retiring in 1994, Worthy transitioned into broadcasting, currently serving as a basketball analyst, as well as being a motivational corporate speaker. His legacy as one of the game's most reliable playoff performers remains firmly intact in NBA history.

Phil Taylor is a former Sports Illustrated senior writer and columnist whose work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Athletic. His basketball commentary on television and radio has included appearances on CNN and on NPR's All Things Considered. Taylor's twenty-five years at SI included eight as its lead NBA writer, when he wrote extensively about such basketball stars as Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant. He has covered some of the most famous sports events in recent memory, including the earthquake-struck 1989 World Series at Candlestick Park, Chris Webber's infamous timeout in the 1993 NCAA tournament title game, and Jordan's epic "flu-game" in the 1997 NBA Finals. Taylor has won awards from the Professional Basketball Writers Association and the Associated Press Sports Editors, as well as a National Headliner Award for his column writing.