From Muhammad Ali to Michael Jordan, many of the greatest athletes of all time call America home. But have you ever wondered which sporting star is more revered in each US state?
A new study has uncovered the top sporting star born in each state.
By looking at the most successful and prodigious athletes of all time, TopUSCasinos.com then looked at who is searched for the most on Wikipedia, to reveal the most popular sporting legends from each state across the US.
The most popular athlete from every US state
With nearly 60% of states ranking a basketball or football icon as their top hometown hero. It’s by no surprise that basketball’s Michael Jordan takes the crown as North Carolina’s state superstar. Or celebrate ballers Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson, and Magic Johnson claim top for their native Arkansas, Montana, and Michigan, respectively. In Football from Louisana’s two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning, Virginia favourite and legendary college coach Nick Saban all take top spots.
It’s not only basketball and Football that are celebrated. By, turning our attention to the ring, one of the sport’s most celebrated athletes, Muhammad Ali, is comfortably the greatest to ever come out of Kentucky. Heading westward Tiger Woods’ golfing heroics have cemented him as California’s leading sportsman, while tennis’ Andre Agassi is top in Nevada.
Discover your state’s hometown hero below:
State | Top Athlete | Sport |
Alabama | Charles Barkley | Basketball |
Alaska | Curt Schiling | Baseball |
Arizona | Billy Graham | Wrestling |
Arkansas | Scottie Pippen | Basketball |
California | Tiger Woods | Golf |
Colorado | Vincent Jackson | Football |
Connecticut | Floyd Little | Football |
Delaware | Randy White | Football |
Florida | Roy Jones Jr. | Boxing |
Georgia | Jackie Robinson | Baseball |
Hawaii | B.J. Penn | MMA |
Idaho | Jake Plummer | Football |
Illinois | Dwyane Wade | Basketball |
Indiana | Larry Bird | Basketball |
Iowa | Kurt Warner | Football |
Kansas | Barry Sanders | Football |
Kentucky | Muhammad Ali | Boxing |
Louisana | Peyton Manning | Football |
Maine | Edmund “RIP” Black | Football |
Maryland | Babe Ruth | Baseball |
Massachusetts | Patrick Ewing | Basketball |
Michigan | Magic Johnson | Basketball |
Minnesota | Kevin Garnett | Basketball |
Mississippi | Brett Favre | Football |
Missouri | Jayson Tatum | Basketball |
Montana | Phil Jackson | Basketball |
Nebraska | Gale Sayers | Football |
Nevada | Andre Agassi | Tennis |
New Hampshire | Carlton Fisk | Baseball |
New Jersey | Rick Barry | Basketball |
New York | Alex Rodriguez | Baseball |
North Carolina | Michael Jordan | Basketball |
North Dakota | Roger Maris | Baseball |
Ohio | Jack Nicklaus | Golf |
Oklahoma | Jim Thorpe | Decathlon, Pentathlon |
Oregon | Danny Ainge | Basketball |
Pennsylvania | Wilt Chamberlain | Basketball |
Rhode Island | Vinny Pazienza | Boxing |
South Carolina | Joe Frazier | Boxing |
South Dakota | Billy Mills | Long Distance Running |
Tennessee | Reggie White | Football |
Texas | Lance Armstrong | Road Cycling |
Utah | Jim Mcmahon | Football |
Vermont | John Leclair | Ice Hockey |
Virginia | Allen Iverson | Basketball |
Washington | John Elway | Football |
West Virginia | Jerry West | Basketball |
Wisconsin | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Basketball |
Wyoming | James Johnson | Basketball |