Sam Worthen
Encyclopedia
Samuel Lee Worthen (born January 17, 1958 in Brooklyn
, New York
) is a former NBA player who currently is touring as the coach of the Washington Generals
, the team that periennally loses to the Harlem Globetrotters
.
Worthen was an All-American point guard at Marquette University
from 1978-1980 under coach Hank Raymonds
. He led the Warriors in assists during his junior year and scoring and assists in his senior year. In 1980, he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls
in the second round of the NBA Draft
and played in the NBA for two seasons. Worthen was with the Bulls in 1980-1981 and the Utah Jazz
in 1981-1982.
In late 2008, Worthen was the coach of the Generals, playing the bad guy role during the games. He ran such skits as using a "remote controlled" ball that the Globetrotters couldn't control, putting a piece of hard plastic on top the Globetrotters rim so they couldn't score and simply adding 30 or so points to the Generals' score by manipulating the scoreboard. At the end of games, he would lose a bet and was forced to wear a pink tutu and a tiara, and carry a shiny magic wand off the court.
Worthen started coaching in 1985 as a player/coach of the United States Basketball League
's Springfield Fame guiding them to the league title. He is also an entertainer with The Court Jesters.
Worthen and the New Haven Skyhawks won the 1988 USBL Championship. He has been the head coach of the Albany Patroons
(CBA
), Miami Tropics
(USBL; 1987 Champions), New York Whitecaps (USBL), Harrisburg Hammerheads (CBA), Fort Wayne Fury
(CBA), Long Island Surf (USBL), Brooklyn Kings
(USBL), and Baltimore Bayrunners
(IBL
).
Worthen also has worked with the Iona College
men's basketball program. He also was the assistant coach of the Fayetteville Patriots
of the National Basketball Development League (NBDL).
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) is a former NBA player who currently is touring as the coach of the Washington Generals
Washington Generals
The Washington Generals are an American exhibition basketball team, best known for their spectacular losing streak in exhibition games against the Harlem Globetrotters.-History:...
, the team that periennally loses to the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
.
Worthen was an All-American point guard at Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
from 1978-1980 under coach Hank Raymonds
Hank Raymonds
Henry C. 'Hank' Raymonds coached the Marquette University men's basketball team from 1977 to 1983. He also was Athletic Director at Marquette from 1977 to 1987.-Early life:...
. He led the Warriors in assists during his junior year and scoring and assists in his senior year. In 1980, he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
in the second round of the NBA Draft
1980 NBA Draft
The 1980 NBA Draft was the 34th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 10, 1980, before the 1980–81 season. In this draft, 23 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
and played in the NBA for two seasons. Worthen was with the Bulls in 1980-1981 and the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in 1981-1982.
In late 2008, Worthen was the coach of the Generals, playing the bad guy role during the games. He ran such skits as using a "remote controlled" ball that the Globetrotters couldn't control, putting a piece of hard plastic on top the Globetrotters rim so they couldn't score and simply adding 30 or so points to the Generals' score by manipulating the scoreboard. At the end of games, he would lose a bet and was forced to wear a pink tutu and a tiara, and carry a shiny magic wand off the court.
Worthen started coaching in 1985 as a player/coach of the United States Basketball League
United States Basketball League
The United States Basketball League , often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.-History:...
's Springfield Fame guiding them to the league title. He is also an entertainer with The Court Jesters.
Worthen and the New Haven Skyhawks won the 1988 USBL Championship. He has been the head coach of the Albany Patroons
Albany Patroons
The Albany Patroons were a professional basketball team that played in the Continental Basketball Association ....
(CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
), Miami Tropics
Miami Tropics
The Miami Tropics were a team in the Premier Basketball League that began to play in 2007 in Miami, Florida. The team was owned by the Imperiali Organization, which also owns the Palm Beach Imperials. They originally played their inaugural season in the American Basketball Association, but moved...
(USBL; 1987 Champions), New York Whitecaps (USBL), Harrisburg Hammerheads (CBA), Fort Wayne Fury
Fort Wayne Fury
The Fort Wayne Fury was a team in the Continental Basketball Association from 1991 through the cessation of the CBA on February 8, 2001.-History:...
(CBA), Long Island Surf (USBL), Brooklyn Kings
Brooklyn Kings
The Brooklyn Kings are a United States Basketball League franchise in Brooklyn, New York. They play in Downtown Brooklyn, on the main campus of Long Island University. They started play in 1999. The league suspended operations after the 2007 season and the team has been inactive since then.-...
(USBL), and Baltimore Bayrunners
Baltimore Bayrunners
The Baltimore Bayrunners were part of the International Basketball League . The Bayrunners were the first professional basketball team Baltimore had seen since the Bullets moved from Baltimore in 1973...
(IBL
International Basketball League
The International Basketball League was a short lived professional basketball league in the United States. The IBL was headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. The league started in 1999 and ended in 2001.-History:...
).
Worthen also has worked with the Iona College
Iona College
Iona College may refer to:* Iona College , New Rochelle, New York, USA* Iona College , Australia* Iona College , Hawkes Bay, New Zealand* Iona Presentation College, Perth, Western Australia...
men's basketball program. He also was the assistant coach of the Fayetteville Patriots
Fayetteville Patriots
The Fayetteville Patriots were a NBA Development League team based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States. Its logo design features a bald eagle's head and a basketball in the middle of a capital letter "P" with stars and stripes filling the rest of it.-Season By Season:- Franchise history...
of the National Basketball Development League (NBDL).