Here are some statistics to help you determine who was the best state athlete in their prime. Sixty percent voted for one of these great football and basketball heroes as their greatest hometown hero. Michael Jordan, for example is the state’s best athlete. Kentucky's state boxing hero Muhammad Ali is also listed among the best athletes. Andre Agassi (Nevada) and Tiger Woods (California) are the two best athletes in California.
Bo Jackson
If you haven't heard of Bo Jackson, he is the best athlete from each state. Bo was a basketball superstar who broke tackles, and ran a 99 yard touchdown in the 1991 NCAA Championship game. Williston High School also won two state championships. In addition, he played basketball at the University of North Dakota and averaged 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
Pippen was honored by the Chicago Bulls as their greatest player during the 2008-09 postseason. His average of 21.0 points and 7.0 assists per game made him the most valuable player they have ever had. He averaged 7.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. Pippen, who recorded his first postseason triple-double against Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1, is the only active player to achieve a double-double.
Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett (a professional baseball player who was with the Minnesota Twins for 12 years) is the best state athlete on this list. He won six Gold Gloves awards and led the league in hits. He won the MVP vote three more times and was an excellent player in two World Series. His final season was one of the most memorable in team history, as he ended his career on a high note.
Scott Gomez
The NHL has a long history producing athletes. Alaska is no different. Alaska has had at least 12 NHL players in its history. However, none of them have come even close to Gomez. Gomez was a Anchorage native who played for Alaska Aces in 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 then continued to hone it at college, becoming one of the few players to make a living from the jump shot in the pro ranks. He is considered one of the top athletes in each state for his jump shot. This article discusses the impact Sailors had on basketball and his legacy.
LeBron James
LeBron James is one legend in sports. He is the most successful basketball player in history, with four NBA championships under his belt. LeBron James currently leads the Cleveland Cavaliers toward their first NBA title. LeBron has been awarded numerous awards. He also holds two Olympic medals, and is the NBA's MVP two times. Let's find out where he ranks among America's greatest athletes.