OT: longest stretch as the best player in their sport

[Eric15]

This is subjective of course, but I would estimate that Lebron became the best player in the NBA around 2007 or so and continues to be 13 years later. Has there ever been another athlete in pro sports that has been the alpha in their sport as long as this?

Wayne Gretzky comes to mind. He led the NHL in total points from 1980-1994.

I defer to baseball historians on this. Babe Ruth? Ty Cobb?

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Michael Phelps and Greg Louganis immediately come to mind.
I am not a Yankee fan, and baseball is so specialized that it is hard to say someone is the best, but Mariano Rivera has to be considered.
I would add Jerry Rice and Jim Brown as FB options, and Russell or Wilt on the basketball side.
Can this be split: Messi and Renaldo seemingly have been around forever.
Jimmy Johnson (off memory) won a ton of NASCAR cups over a long time.

 

[jgeorge322]

Without looking it up—nicklaus, russell or brady?

 

[sutomcat]

This is subjective of course, but I would estimate that Lebron became the best player in the NBA around 2007 or so and continues to be 13 years later. Has there ever been another athlete in pro sports that has been the alpha in their sport as long as this?

Wayne Gretzky comes to mind. He led the NHL in total points from 1980-1994.

I defer to baseball historians on this. Babe Ruth? Ty Cobb?

What are the pro sports?

Soccer. Maybe Pele.
Football. I would say no. No one was clearly the best player for 13 consecutive years.
Hockey. Agree, if it was anyone, it was Gretzky. But he actually only led the league scoring 8 consecutive years. After that, I think LeMieux passed him. Only won 9 Hart Trophies (for MVP). His legacy was tarnished some when he was traded to LA and failed to win any cups there.

NHL & WHA Yearly Leaders and Records for Points | Hockey-Reference.com

NHL & WHA Yearly Leaders and Records for Points

www.hockey-reference.com

Babe was dominant for a long time. Led the league in OPS 14 of 15 years...the only year he didn't, he was not well. You can argue he was the best player in baseball for a couple of years earlier than this as well, when he was one of the best pitchers in baseball, as well as one of the best hitters, when he was primarily a pitcher when he first came up with the Red Sox. Not sure Lebron has dominated the sport of basketball like Babe did baseball either. Though he has been amazing for a really long period of time. Leading the league in assists this season for the first time is particularly impressive to me.

Babe Ruth Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com

Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Babe Ruth. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com

www.baseball-reference.com

Cobb had a great stretch where he led the league in hitting 12 of 13 years but I don't think he was as dominant as Ruth was in other categories. Led the league in OPS 8 of 9 years, which is amazing, but not quite as amazing as what Babe did. Especially given Babe was also a great pitcher.

I would go with Babe as the more amazing, longer dominant streak, but Lebron is getting close and you could argue his sport is more demanding on the body than baseball.

 

[MSOrange]

What are the pro sports?

Soccer. Maybe Pele.
Football. I would say no. No one was clearly the best player for 13 consecutive years.
Hockey. Agree, if it was anyone, it was Gretzky. But he actually only led the league scoring 8 consecutive years. After that, I think LeMieux passed him. Only won 9 Hart Trophies (for MVP). His legacy was tarnished some when he was traded to LA and failed to win any cups there.

NHL & WHA Yearly Leaders and Records for Points | Hockey-Reference.com

NHL & WHA Yearly Leaders and Records for Points

www.hockey-reference.com

Babe was dominant for a long time. Led the league in OPS 14 of 15 years...the only year he didn't, he was not well. You can argue he was the best player in baseball for a couple of years earlier than this as well, when he was one of the best pitchers in baseball, as well as one of the best hitters, when he was primarily a pitcher when he first came up with the Red Sox. Not sure Lebron has dominated the sport of basketball like Babe did baseball either. Though he has been amazing for a really long period of time. Leading the league in assists this season for the first time is particularly impressive to me.

Babe Ruth Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com

Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Babe Ruth. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com

www.baseball-reference.com

Cobb had a great stretch where he led the league in hitting 12 of 13 years but I don't think he was as dominant as Ruth was in other categories. Led the league in OPS 8 of 9 years, which is amazing, but not quite as amazing as what Babe did. Especially given Babe was also a great pitcher.

I would go with Babe as the more amazing, longer dominant streak, but Lebron is getting close and you could argue his sport is more demanding on the body than baseball.

Good post. I would point out that the way Babe took care of his body probably balances out basketball being the more demanding sport

 

[sutomcat]

Good post. I would point out that the way Babe took care of his body probably balances out basketball being the more demanding sport

Yup. One wonders what Babe would have done if he took care of his body like Lebron takes care of his. Those two are on the far ends of the bar curve in that category!

 

[miamicuse]

I would like to throw in Kareem and see how he stacks up.

He was in the NBA for 20 seasons, with 19 times all star selection. While he was not the clear single alpha during those years, since you have Wilt, Russell, Walton etc...that are arguably at the same level, he was clearly one of the alphas.

That's just the NBA, but if you count his 4 years at UCLA, where he was the alpha during those years too, that's 24 years of basketball at an extremely high level, even if you discount the last few years as being on a downhill slide with the emergence of Magic, it's still an exceedingly long career, and I think this is even more incredible considering his position as a center which is most injury prone.

 

[DonLightfoot]

I must say this is one of the best and most interesting OT threads in quite a while.

NBA - I'm not a big fan of the league, but can't disagree with anyone that has been mentioned thus far. Long term consistency would lean me towards Lebron.

MLB - Seems that Pete Rose played forever and was consistent for most of his career. However, I will throw in Hank Aaron who was my all time favourite player. I remember getting his baseball card when I was a kid and was intrigued by the last name and loved the very colourful Milwaukee Braves uniform.

NFL - Guess it is hard not to go with Brady. Jim Brown was so great, but I think he only played about nine years or so.

NHL - No disputing The Great One. However, consider what "Mister Hockey" Gordie Howe accomplished on and off the ice as one of the best ambassadors for any sport. He played in five different decades (remember it is hockey), won six scoring titles, six MVP awards and four Stanley Cups. He is still fourth all-time on the NHL points list (although over 1,000 points behind Gretzky).

Great memories, thanks for posting this thread.

 

[moqui]

i don't mean this to diminish lebron at all, whom i believe to be at least the equal of michael jordan and who just completed a terrific season & brilliant playoff run . . .
but prior to this season, he hasn't been the consensus best player in the league for several years. lbj was mostly undisputed from 07 to 13 but not really since then. durant held that unofficial title for a couple years, last year it was giannis, some years there was no consensus.

 

[jgeorge322]

i don't mean this to diminish lebron at all, whom i believe to be at least the equal of michael jordan and who just completed a terrific season & brilliant playoff run . . .
but prior to this season, he hasn't been the consensus best player in the league for several years. lbj was mostly undisputed from 07 to 13 but not really since then. durant held that unofficial title for a couple years, last year it was giannis, some years there was no consensus.

those guys were never better than lebron, and thats coming from a guy who roots for him to loss

 

[moqui]

those guys were never better than lebron, and thats coming from a guy who roots for him to loss

good for you. but the operative word, in all of this, is "consensus"

 

[jgeorge322]

good for you. but the operative word, in all of this, is "consensus"

I bet most aka consensus would say lebron was better all those years. Mvp doesnt always mean best.

 

[CuseMan4]

There have been a few Tennis Players that have had a long run of dominance. Can’t forget about Tiger Woods he had a good 10 year stretch or so where he was dominating golf. Jimmy Johnson in NASCAR comes to mind as well

 

[Eric15]

i don't mean this to diminish lebron at all, whom i believe to be at least the equal of michael jordan and who just completed a terrific season & brilliant playoff run . . .
but prior to this season, he hasn't been the consensus best player in the league for several years. lbj was mostly undisputed from 07 to 13 but not really since then. durant held that unofficial title for a couple years, last year it was giannis, some years there was no consensus.

Giannis has been historically great from an advanced stat (PER, etc.) standpoint over the past couple years. But if you polled every player/coach/GM in the NBA and asked them "who is the best player in the league?" or "all things being equal, who would you most like to play with in order to win a title?" I would be honestly surprised if Giannis finished ahead of Lebron.

 

[tee1222]

Shaun White's had some longevity, snowboarding halfpipe but a few other events as well, none nearly as dominant as halfpipe.
He was unbeatable for a long while:

Shaun White - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[moqui]

Giannis has been historically great from an advanced stat (PER, etc.) standpoint over the past couple years. But if you polled every player/coach/GM in the NBA and asked them "who is the best player in the league?" or "all things being equal, who would you most like to play with in order to win a title?" I would be honestly surprised if Giannis finished ahead of Lebron.

looking through the lens of today you are correct
but not last year

 

[cliftonparksufan]

This is subjective of course, but I would estimate that Lebron became the best player in the NBA around 2007 or so and continues to be 13 years later. Has there ever been another athlete in pro sports that has been the alpha in their sport as long as this?

Wayne Gretzky comes to mind. He led the NHL in total points from 1980-1994.

I defer to baseball historians on this. Babe Ruth? Ty Cobb?

Esther Vegeer. Look her up. Named as the most dominant player in professional sports. No one else is close.

 

[Knicks411]

Lebron hasn't won the mvp for a while, but he's still the consensus guy you'd pick if you had to win a game tomorrow and your life depended on it, right?

 

[moqui]

Has there ever been another athlete in pro sports that has been the alpha in their sport as long as this?

i think i'd say serena williams, the most dominant athlete of the 21st century

 

[Briancuse]

I would say Brady LeBron and Jack Nicolas.

 

[DeGrozz]

This is subjective of course, but I would estimate that Lebron became the best player in the NBA around 2007 or so and continues to be 13 years later. Has there ever been another athlete in pro sports that has been the alpha in their sport as long as this?

Wayne Gretzky comes to mind. He led the NHL in total points from 1980-1994.

I defer to baseball historians on this. Babe Ruth? Ty Cobb?

It kinda goes against the question that you are asking, but I think it also fits in very well with the point you are making about longevity at being a peak player in your sport...

Messi and CR7 fit the bill.

The only difference is that there is no clear hand-off (Jordan -> Kobe -> Lebron; or Pele -> Beckenbauer -> Maradonna, if you will). It's kinda crazy to have the history that you do in a sport and arguably have the greatest ever and a top-5 (I said arguably) player ever to be in their prime for the same ~13 year stretch.

 

[cuse62]

Not sure how long she has been in the national spotlight; but Simone Biles has been dominate. It is surprising if someone is even close to her.

Also not sure how long Edwin Moses dominated 400 meter hurdles.

 

[Eric15]

Lebron hasn't won the mvp for a while, but he's still the consensus guy you'd pick if you had to win a game tomorrow and your life depended on it, right?

I think voters sometimes feel voter fatigue for certain stars and feel an obligation to mix it up. Barkley and Malone each won MVPs during MJ's prime, and they deserved to win, but I feel like it was just understood that Jordan was still the best player in the league. Similar dynamic to people like Harden, Curry and Giannis winning MVP instead of Lebron.

 

[moqui]

muhammad ali, 16 years or so

 

[DoctahLexus]

i think i'd say serena williams, the most dominant athlete of the 21st century

Indeed. The GOAT without question. She has been the best since about 2001-02, while maybe falling just a hair in the past couple years, but she has also dealt with more injuries and health issues than lebron who has been consistently healthy in his career. Federer and Nadal have also been the top dogs for about as long as lebron.