These Are The Top 5 Athletes Of The Last Decade
Every generation has some crazy athletes, right? Some guys could even cover for multiple decades of greatness. Transcending generations and becoming the gold standard for professional athletes. Over the past ten years, who are some of the greatest athletes we’ve seen in North America?
5) Patrick Mahomes
When we look back at this list in 10 or 15 years, we’ll probably wonder how Patrick Mahomes was only number five. But for now, this feels like a fine ranking. What Mahomes has done in his six seasons as the Chiefs starting quarterback is legendary stuff, fast-tracking him into legendary air if he continues at this pace. The guy has never had a season with under double-digit wins.
In six seasons, Mahomes has won two MVP awards, three Super Bowl rings, three Super Bowl MVP awards, an Offensive Player of the Year award in 2018, six Pro Bowl appearances, and two First-Team All-Pro seasons. Now he’ll look to capture the elusive three-peat this season.
4) Lebron James
Lebron James is the Prince that was promised. He’s lived up to just about every expectation he had, which is tough to do when you’re in those shoes. James’ time in the NBA has put him into the conversation with Michael Jordan as the GOAT. He’s the NBA’s All-Time leader in Points while being fourth in assists and eighth in steals.
James is a 20-time NBA All-Star and 20-time All-NBA member with six appearances on the All-Defensive team and four NBA Championships in which he won Finals MVP. He’s also second all-time in minutes played and sixth in games played. James also sits fifth in triple-doubles with 112. Not much needs to be said; no matter how you feel about the guy, he’s one of the best to lace them up.
3) Sidney Crosby
Much like Lebron James, Sidney Crosby is one of the few athletes who had a ton of expectations coming into his career, and somehow he smashed every single one of them. Since Crosby stepped into the NHL, it’s been his playland. He’s won three Stanley Cups and almost every award accessible to him in hockey.
Crosby is currently the leader among active players in assists and total points, and he sits second among active players in goals and game-winning goals, trailing just Alex Ovechkin, his career rival and also NHL royalty. Crosby just put up the most points in a season by a player at age 36 or older and shows no signs of slowing down.
2) Tom Brady
Tom Brady has become the absolute golden standard for a career in sports. He went from being the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft to being the greatest football player ever. He could still play in the league but chooses not to.
Throughout his career, Brady made 15 Pro Bowls but he didn’t get to go to them very often because he was too busy winning seven Super Bowls and five Super Bowl MVPs. He’s also won three regular-old MVP awards and two Offensive Player of the Year awards. You don’t need to hear it. You know he’s the GOAT.
1) Joey Chestnut
You thought Tom Brady would be number one, didn’t you? Not so fast. Don’t forget about the American legend Joey Chestnut. The guy is an American hero and should be treated as one. Go look at his Wikipedia page, the guy is a machine. If you have any kind of eating competition in America, Chestnut will show up and win it with ease.
Chestnut is most known for his pure dominance in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest that is held every year on the Fourth of July. He’s won it a resounding 16 times. He set the world record for hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes in 2020 with 75 hot dogs, then beat his record the following year when he ate 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Chestnut has been tearing them up since 2007 and is the best athlete of the past decade.
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