Here's an overview of who was the greatest athlete from each state during their peak years. Sixty percent of the states ranked one of the great basketball or football icons as their best hometown hero. 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. Andre Agassi (Nevada) and Tiger Woods (California) are the two best athletes in California.
Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson is the most famous athlete from each state. Bo was a basketball star who broke tackles and ripped off a 99-yard touchdown in the 1991 NCAA championship game. He also led Williston High School to two state championships. He also played basketball at North Dakota State University, scoring an average of 27 points as a Senior. His basketball career spanned seven decades, earning him 12 NBA titles, one as a player and 11 as a coach.
Scottie Pippen
The Chicago Bulls crowned Pippen their best player ever in the 2008-09 postseason, where he averaged 21.0 points and 7.0 assists per game. He averaged 7.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. Pippen is currently the only active player who has a postseason double-double. In Game 1, he scored his first triplet 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 won six Gold Glove Awards and led the league with hits four times. He was nominated for the MVP three times and played in two World Series. His final season was memorable and he finished his career on a high note.
Scott Gomez
The NHL has a long track record of producing elite athletes. Alaska is no exception. Alaska has at least 12 NHL players, but none are even close to Gomez. Born in Anchorage, Gomez played for the Alaska Aces during the NHL lockouts. The 2000 Calder Memorial Trophy winner has made his home state proud.
Ricky Sailors
Sailors' jump shot was perfected in high school. He continued to refine his jump shot at college, and was soon one of the few professional players who made a living off it. His jump shot continues to make waves in the NBA today and he is often considered to be the best from each state. This article will examine the legacy of Sailors and his impact on basketball.
LeBron James
LeBron James, one of the many sports legends, is one such example. He is considered the greatest basketball player in the country, having won four NBA championships. Now, he leads the Cleveland Cavaliers towards their first NBA championship. LeBron is not only a winner of numerous awards but also has two Olympic gold medals and was twice named the NBA's MVP. Let's see how he ranks among all the great athletes of America.