LeBron James

Before LeBron James burst on to the scene there wasn't a conversation to be had: Michael Jordan was basketball's undisputed GOAT. It's testament to LeBron that there is now a debate, that there is an argument to be made, that a boy from Akron in Ohio – not Brooklyn – could be the greatest ever to lace 'em up. He may not have as much hardware as Jordan but LeBron is still a three-time NBA champ and three-time Finals MVP, a four-time league MVP with 16 All-Star appearances and three Olympic medals. Not bad. Still, what can't be measured in rings and honours may very well be the thing that puts LeBron ahead – his ability to drag mediocre teams through the regular season and into the playoffs just by being, well, LeBron James. A supreme generational talent who, whatever side you land on, you can't deny is one of the greatest athletes in US sports history.