From Rivals to NCAA Legends: The Night James Worthy and Sleepy Floyd Reunited on College Basketball’s Biggest Stage
New Orleans, LA — On March 29, 1982, the Superdome floor became the ultimate proving ground for two sons of Gastonia, North Carolina — James Worthy and Eric “Sleepy” Floyd. Childhood friends turned college rivals, the pair grew up honing their skills on the same playgrounds, never imagining they would one day square off for a national title under the brightest lights in college basketball.
The stage was the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship game: Worthy, the dynamic junior forward for the University of North Carolina, led a Tar Heels squad stacked with future NBA talent — including a freshman named Michael Jordan. Across from him, Floyd, Georgetown’s smooth-scoring senior guard, was the emotional leader of the Hoyas, a team built on grit and precision under coach John Thompson.
From the opening tip, it was clear this was not just another championship game — it was a battle layered with personal history. Worthy’s explosive drives and mid-range touch kept UNC in front, while Floyd’s calm leadership and sharp shooting rallied the Hoyas time and again. The game remained tense, a chess match of styles, until the final seconds.
With Georgetown clinging to a 62-61 lead, freshman Jordan nailed a baseline jumper to give North Carolina the edge. In the chaos that followed, Worthy made the game’s defining defensive play — intercepting an errant pass from Floyd’s teammate that sealed UNC’s 63-62 victory and handed the Tar Heels their second NCAA championship.
For Worthy, who was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player, it was the crowning moment of his college career before embarking on a Hall of Fame run with the Los Angeles Lakers. For Floyd, despite the heartbreak, the game was a testament to his poise and talent, paving the way for a decade-long NBA career marked by consistency and professionalism.
After the buzzer, the two embraced — rivals in the moment, but bound forever by their shared roots and the significance of the night. Gastonia had produced not just two basketball stars, but two men who left an indelible mark on the sport’s history.
Decades later, that 1982 championship remains a classic — a story of friendship, rivalry, and destiny, played out before millions on college basketball’s grandest stage. And for Worthy and Floyd, it was proof that no matter where the game takes you, home is never far away.
