New Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James may still be years away from matching Michael Jordan’s accomplishments on the court, but The King has surpassed His Airness in one area—that of America’s favorite athlete.
According to a recently released Harris Poll, the erstwhile Miami Heat star is now the most popular sports star in the United States, dislodging the long-retired Jordan.
This is a testament to how James has turned around his fortunes, at least in terms of public perception, after he was the most hated athlete after “The Decision” he made in 2010. During his four years in Miami, James became a winner by copping two titles and leading the Heat to four straight NBA Finals appearances.
The New York Daily News points out that the survey was conducted between June 11 and 16, which was after the Heat took a 4-1 spanking at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. It remains to be seen how James’ popularity would fare after he switched teams.
According to the poll, James dislodged Jordan from the number one spot in the list by getting a lot of support from the 18-36 and 49-67 age demographics. Jordan was last year’s number one even though he’s been retired for more than a decade. He was also atop the list from 1993 to 2005.
Rounding out the top five are retiring Yankees star Derek Jeter, Denver Broncos star Peyton Manning and Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant.
Also in the top ten are racer Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, golfer Tiger Woods, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
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