Top 20 biggest U.S. sports icons: full list –
Lakers star LeBron James made the list alongside along with his late teammate Kobe Bryant (Image: Getty)
Michael Jordan has been named the biggest icon in American sports historical past by followers round the world, research reveals. A research of 10,000 followers of U.S. sports discovered the NBA star ranked first in the ballot, carefully adopted by basketball participant Kobe Bryant, baseball pitcher and hitter Shohei Ohtani and LeBron James.
Other stars to seem on the list embrace Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, his teammate Travis Kelce, and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.
The research also discovered that 88% of followers worldwide said particular person gamers had been what first sparked their curiosity in U.S. sports, and 47% said they might, or have, modified the team they assist if their favourite participant left.
Fans’ ardour runs deep, with 36% touring to the States or other locations overseas to attend an NFL or NBA game, and an additional 34% planning to take action in the future.
Michael Jordan was topped primary in the ballot (Image: Getty)
Alexander Dreyfus, Founder and CEO at Chiliz, which commissioned the research as a part of its annual U.S. sports deep‑dive audit, said: “The USA is the world’s largest sports market with internationally renowned organizations, brands and individual stars.
“This has resulted in a global community of fans in every corner of the world. What this report shows is that the way fans engage is adapting and shifting as digital fan engagement evolves.”
The research also confirmed that 12% contemplate themselves devoted followers who maintain an in depth eye on their favourite leagues, while 22% observe them commonly.
Meanwhile, half (48%) immerse themselves in U.S. sports a few instances per week, with 16% partaking with it every day, according to research carried out by way of OnePoll.
As for the way followers interact, 55% watch full live games on TV or streaming, while 49% observe highlights or quick clips. In fact, 29% developed their love for a selected sports team by watching games on TV or streaming.
Social media performs a major position too, with 37% following groups on-line and 15% actively collaborating in on-line fan communities. YouTube stays the most well-liked platform, utilized by 63% of followers, adopted by Instagram (42%), Facebook (29%) and TikTok (25%).
But time zones (51%) and subscription charges (34%) stay the biggest challenges for followers.
Alexander Dreyfus, added: “Jordan’s enduring legacy and the power of pull of teams like the Lakers and the Giants shows the importance of establishing a brand that forms deep connections with fans around the globe.
“Fans are the creators of value in sport, an industry that is moving towards a $1 Trillion valuation, and finding innovative ways to keep fans engaged is crucial for the continued growth of teams and leagues in the US.”
THE TOP 20 BIGGEST US BASED SPORTS ICONS
- Michael Jordan
- Kobe Bryant
- Shohei Ohtani
- LeBron James
- Lionel Messi
- David Beckham
- Tom Brady
- Babe Ruth
- Stephen Curry
- Aaron Rodgers
- Magic Johnson
- Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod)
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Alex Ovechkin
- Auston Matthews
- Aaron Judge
- Christian Pulisic
- Zlatan Ibrahimović
- Victor Wembanyama
- Connor McDavid
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