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Rankings & Lists

Greatest American Sports Stars of All Time

The definitive list of the USA's greatest athletes across every sport.

50Athletes Ranked

The definitive list of the USA's greatest athletes across every sport.

1
MJ

American·Basketball

Michael Jordan

American basketball legend widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, leading Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s.

6× champion · 30.1 ppg career

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2
MA

American·Boxing

Muhammad Ali

The Greatest — three-time world heavyweight champion, Olympic gold medallist and the most celebrated athlete of the 20th century.

56-5-0 · 3 world titles

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3
TB

American·American Football

Tom Brady

American NFL quarterback widely considered the greatest of all time, seven-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL MVP with legendary lo

7× Super Bowl · 649 TDs

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4
LJ

American·Basketball

LeBron James

American basketball superstar, 4-time NBA champion and all-time leading scorer. Known for versatility, basketball IQ, and longevity across m

4× champion · 27.1 ppg career

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5
BR

American·Baseball

Babe Ruth

American baseball legend known as 'The Babe', transformed the game with his unprecedented home run hitting power and became baseball's first

714 home runs · .0342 avg

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6
SW

American·Tennis

Serena Williams

23-time Grand Slam champion and the greatest female athlete of her generation — transformed tennis and redefined possibility.

23 Grand Slams · 319 weeks at No.1

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7
JN

American·Golf

Jack Nicklaus

American professional golfer widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all time, winning a record 18 major championships during his illustri

18 majors · 73 tour wins

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8
TW

American·Golf

Tiger Woods

American professional golfer widely regarded as one of the greatest players in golf history, with 15 major championships and 82 PGA Tour vic

15 majors · 82 tour wins

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9
JR

American·American Football

Jerry Rice

American football wide receiver widely regarded as the greatest of all time, holding numerous NFL records including most career receiving ya

208 TDs · 13× Pro Bowl

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10
JB

American·American Football

Jim Brown

American football running back widely considered the greatest of all time, played nine seasons with Cleveland Browns, rushed for 12,312 yard

106 TDs

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11
SB

American·Gymnastics

Simone Biles

American artistic gymnast widely considered the greatest of all time with 7 Olympic golds and 25 World Championship medals including 19 gold

7 Olympic golds · 23 world titles

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12
MP

American·Swimming

Michael Phelps

American swimmer and most decorated Olympian in history with 28 Olympic medals including 23 golds across four Olympic Games from 2004-2016.

23 Olympic golds · 28 Olympic medals

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13
KA

American·Basketball

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

American basketball legend and NBA's all-time leading scorer for 39 years, known for his unstoppable skyhook shot and six NBA championships.

6× champion · 24.6 ppg career

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14
BR

American·Basketball

Bill Russell

American basketball center and coach, widely regarded as the greatest winner in NBA history with 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Bos

11× champion

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15
JO

American·Athletics

Jesse Owens

The hero of the 1936 Berlin Olympics — won four gold medals in front of Adolf Hitler, directly challenging Nazi ideology of racial supremacy

4 Olympic golds · 6 world records

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16
CL

American·Athletics

Carl Lewis

Nine-time Olympic gold medallist and winner of four consecutive long jump titles at the Games — widely considered the greatest track and fie

9 Olympic golds · 8 world titles

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17
WC

American·Basketball

Wilt Chamberlain

The most statistically dominant player in NBA history — scored 100 points in a single game and averaged 50.4 points per game in 1961-62.

2× champion · 30.1 ppg career

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18
MJ

American·Basketball

Magic Johnson

American basketball legend who revolutionized the point guard position, leading the Lakers to five NBA championships and becoming one of the

5× champion · 19.5 ppg career

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19
LB

American·Basketball

Larry Bird

Boston Celtics legend and three-time champion whose rivalry with Magic Johnson revived the NBA in the 1980s.

3× champion · 24.3 ppg career

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20
PS

American·Tennis

Pete Sampras

14-time Grand Slam champion who dominated the 1990s with an unmatched serve-and-volley game and seven Wimbledon titles.

14 Grand Slams · 286 weeks at No.1

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21
WM

American·Baseball

Willie Mays

American baseball center fielder widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, known for his spectacular all-around play and '

660 home runs · .0302 avg

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22
HA

American·Baseball

Hank Aaron

American baseball legend who broke Babe Ruth's home run record and became one of the greatest hitters in MLB history with 755 career home ru

755 home runs · .0305 avg

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23
KB

American·Basketball

Kobe Bryant

American basketball legend who spent entire 20-year NBA career with Lakers, winning 5 championships and scoring 81 points in single game

5× champion · 25 ppg career

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24
MP

American·Basketball

Michael Porter Jr.

Smooth and highly talented Denver Nuggets forward who overcame serious injury to help win the franchise's first NBA Championship in 2023.

2023× champion · 14.7 ppg career

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25
DW

American·Basketball

Derrick White

Versatile and underrated defensive guard whose elite shot-blocking and winning pedigree earned him an NBA Championship with the Boston Celti

2024× champion

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26
JH

American·Basketball

Josh Hart

High-energy, relentlessly hustling forward whose motor, rebounding and winning spirit made him a fan favourite at the Knicks and Celtics.

2024× champion

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27
AG

American·Basketball

Aaron Gordon

Versatile and explosive Denver big man whose athleticism and toughness were crucial to the Nuggets' first NBA Championship in 2023.

2023× champion

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28
KK

American·Basketball

Kyle Kuzma

Versatile and improving Washington Wizards forward who won an NBA Championship with the Lakers and has carved out a long, productive career.

2020× champion

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29
FV

American·Basketball

Fred VanVleet

Undrafted underdog who became an NBA champion with Toronto and one of the most beloved point guards of his generation.

2019× champion

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30
HB

American·Basketball

Harrison Barnes

Veteran small forward with a long and distinguished NBA career spanning multiple championship contenders, from Golden State to Sacramento.

2015× champion

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31
FF

American·Baseball

Freddie Freeman

American professional baseball first baseman, 2020 National League MVP, World Series champion and MVP with Atlanta Braves in 2021.

250 home runs · .0302 avg

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32
NC

American·Basketball

Napheesa Collier

Elite defensive anchor, WNBA champion and founder of her own league whose dominance has made her one of the most powerful figures in women's

1× champion

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33
GS

American·Baseball

Giancarlo Stanton

American baseball outfielder and designated hitter known for his powerful hitting and home run records, including leading the NL with 59 hom

430 home runs · 1250 RBI

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34
JL

American·Basketball

Jewell Loyd

Explosive scoring guard whose prolific offense and clutch performances have established her as one of the WNBA's elite scorers.

2× champion

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35
KP

American·Basketball

Kelsey Plum

Record-breaking scorer and WNBA champion whose prolific three-point shooting and winning mentality made her one of the league's all-time gre

2× champion

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36
KC

American·Basketball

Kahleah Copper

Explosive WNBA scorer and Olympic gold medallist whose athleticism and relentless play have made her one of the league's most versatile weap

1× champion

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37
KM

American·Basketball

Kayla McBride

American professional basketball player and two-time Olympic gold medalist, known for her scoring ability and three-point shooting in the WN

1× champion

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38
NO

American·Basketball

Nneka Ogwumike

WNBA champion, former MVP and one of the most decorated and respected players in league history, renowned for her post mastery and professio

1× champion

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39
CS

American·Baseball

CC Sabathia

American left-handed pitcher who won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award and 2009 World Series with the Yankees, recording 3,093 career strikeouts ov

3.74 ERA · 251 wins

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40
PM

American·Baseball

Paul Molitor

American baseball player and Hall of Famer known for his hitting prowess, speed, and clutch performances during a 21-year MLB career from 19

.0306 avg

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41
KP

American·Baseball

Kirby Puckett

American baseball outfielder who spent his entire 12-year MLB career with the Minnesota Twins, winning two World Series and earning Hall of

207 home runs · .0318 avg

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42
AM

American·Athletics

Athing Mu

American middle-distance runner who became the youngest woman to win Olympic 800m gold since 1968, setting multiple records and dominating g

2 Olympic golds · 2022 world titles

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43
MJ

American·Athletics

Melissa Jefferson

American sprinter specializing in 100m and 4x100m relay, known for her World Championships medals and sub-11 second personal best times.

1 Olympic golds · 2024 world titles

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44
QH

American·Athletics

Quincy Hall

American sprinter and 400m specialist, 2024 Olympic champion who set the American record of 43.40 seconds in Paris, establishing himself as

1 Olympic golds · 2024 world titles

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45
KY

American·Athletics

Kevin Young

American track and field athlete who holds the world record in 400m hurdles with a time of 46.78 seconds set at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

1 Olympic golds · 1992 world titles

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46
RP

American·Motorsport

Richard Petty

American NASCAR driver known as 'The King', holds records for most Cup Series wins (200) and championships (7), dominated stock car racing f

200× World Champion · 200 race wins

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47
JG

American·Motorsport

Jeff Gordon

American NASCAR driver widely considered one of the greatest of all time, winner of 4 Cup Series championships and 93 races during his legen

93× World Champion · 93 race wins

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48
CY

American·Motorsport

Cale Yarborough

American NASCAR driver who won three consecutive Cup Series championships (1976-1978) and became one of stock car racing's greatest champion

83× World Champion · 83 race wins

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49
JJ

American·Motorsport

Jimmie Johnson

American NASCAR driver who won seven Cup Series championships, tying the all-time record. Dominated the sport in the 2000s and 2010s with He

83× World Champion · 83 race wins

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50
DE

American·Motorsport

Dale Earnhardt

American NASCAR driver known as 'The Intimidator', won seven Cup Series championships and is considered one of the greatest stock car driver

76× World Champion · 76 race wins

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