Today in Star Trek History: James Worthy Is Born

James Worthy as Koral. Images: Paramount.

FEBRUARY 27, 2023 – Every once in a while, a Star Trek guest star will beam over from some other profession that they are otherwise best known for. Remember, for example, Mick Fleetwood, Iggy Pop, and Dr. Mae Jemison showing up on Star Trek: The Next Generation? Well, today in Star Trek history another guest star known for his exploits and achievements, this time in professional basketball, was born. A happy Daily Star Trek News birthday to James Worthy.

The 6’9” Worthy played the Klingon Koral in TNG’s seventh season episode, “Gambit, Part II. Larry Nemecek tells us that Worthy was a Star Trek fan, and Memory Alpha notes that he “is the tallest-ever Klingon seen onscreen. Worthy met Robert O'Reilly on a plane flight, and it was O'Reilly who persuaded him to talk to the producers to appear on The Next Generation.”

Worthy was born on this date in 1961 in Gastonia, North Carolina. He attended Ashbrook High and the University of North Carolina.

Other than his looming portrayal of the Klingon mercenary, Worthy is best known for his twelve-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He was drafted by the Lakers after his career at UNC, which included a national championship in 1982. Worthy earned the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award that year. He and the Lakers won three NBA championships together, in 1985, 1987, and 1988, and Worthy was the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in the latter year.

Worthy was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. Both his college jersey number (52) and his NBA number (42) have been retired. Since the end of his playing career, Worthy has been a television NBA analyst and has appeared on several other television shows.

Cheers, 'IwlIj jachjaj, James Worthy, on your 62nd trip around the Sun!

(And, maybe this time, don’t pour out your beverage…?)