Here's an overview of who was the greatest athlete from each state during their peak years. Sixty per cent of the states listed one of their top hometown heroes, either in basketball or football. Michael Jordan, for example is the state’s best athlete. Muhammad Ali (Kentucky's boxing legend) is also listed among the state's greatest athletes. The best sportsmen in California and Nevada are Tiger Woods and Andre Agassi.
Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson is the state's best athlete, if you haven’t heard of him. Bo was a basketball great who broke tackles to score a 99-yard touchdown during the 1991 NCAA championship. Williston High School also won two state championships. He was also a basketball player at the University of North Dakota, where he averaged 27 points per year as a senior. His basketball career stretched over seven decades. He won 12 NBA titles, including one as player and eleven as coach.
Scottie Pippen
Pippen was voted the best player by the Chicago Bulls in 2008-09, when he averaged 21.0 point and 7.0 assists per contest. He also averaged 7.7 rebounds and 2.4% steals per match. Pippen has the distinction of being the only active participant to post a double in the postseason. He recorded his first triple-double in Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett is the top-ranked athlete in each state. He was a professional baseball player who played 12 years for the Minnesota Twins. He was the league's leader in hits four more times, and he won six Gold Glove awards. He won the MVP award three times and played well during two World Series. His last season was one of his most memorable, and he finished his career high.
Scott Gomez
The NHL has a long history of producing athletes, and the state of Alaska is no exception. Alaska has had at least 12 NHL players in its history. However, none of them have come even close to Gomez. Born in Anchorage, Gomez played for the Alaska Aces during the NHL lockouts. Gomez, a 2000 Calder Memorial Trophy recipient, has done his state proud.
Ricky Sailors
Sailors was a high school athlete who developed his jump shot. Sailors continued to improve his jump shot at college and became one of few pro-level players who could make a living using it. His jump shot is still very popular in the NBA, and he is often regarded as one of the greatest athletes from each state. This article will discuss the impact Sailors's legacy has had on basketball.
LeBron James
LeBron James is just one of many sports legends. He's the best basketball player in the world, has won four NBA championships, and is leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA championship. LeBron has been awarded numerous awards. He also holds two Olympic medals, and is the NBA's MVP two times. Let's see how he ranks among all the great athletes of America.