GOAT Rank · 1370

Greatest Athletes from United States

This ranking is led by Michael Phelps, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Carl Lewis. GOAT Rank currently ranks 1370 eligible athletes from United States using verified career records across dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.

Quick answer

According to GOAT Rank's current model, Michael Phelps ranks #1 on this list with a GOAT Score of 95.2.

How the GOAT Score is calculated →

#AthleteGOAT Score

623

Charles Barkley

83.9

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1984–2000
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Charles Barkley

624

Scottie Pippen

83.9

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1987–2004
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 87.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Scottie Pippen

628

Dennis Johnson

83.9

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1976–1990
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Dennis Johnson

629

Spencer Haywood

83.9

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1969–1983
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Spencer Haywood

630

Bob McAdoo

83.9

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1972–1986
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Bob McAdoo

635

Shirley Babashoff

83.9

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1972–1978
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Shirley Babashoff

643

Rai Benjamin

83.8

Sport: Athletics
Career: 2017–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Rai Benjamin

653

Chris Paul

83.7

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2005–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Chris Paul

655

Janet Evans

83.7

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1986–1996
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Janet Evans

660

Randy Barnes

83.7

Sport: Athletics
Career: 1986–1998
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Randy Barnes

661

Tom Heinsohn

83.7

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1956–1965
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 92.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Tom Heinsohn

662

Anne Donovan

83.7

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1979–1989
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Anne Donovan

669

Dwyane Wade

83.6

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2003–2019
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Dwyane Wade

670

Elgin Baylor

83.6

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1958–1972
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Elgin Baylor

675

Joey Giardello

83.6

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1948–1967
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Joey Giardello

684

Billie Jean King

83.5

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1959–1983
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 91.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Billie Jean King

686

Ryan Lochte

83.5

Sport: Swimming
Career: 2004–2021
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Ryan Lochte

687

Tina Thompson

83.5

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1997–2013
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Tina Thompson

688

Katie Smith

83.5

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1996–2013
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Katie Smith

697

Louie Dampier

83.5

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1967–1979
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Louie Dampier

700

Earl Monroe

83.5

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1967–1980
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Earl Monroe

711

Bob Kurland

83.4

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1942–1952
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Bob Kurland

716

Chris Mullin

83.4

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1985–2001
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Chris Mullin

717

Jimmy Carter

83.4

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1946–1960
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Jimmy Carter

718

Pete Herman

83.4

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1912–1922
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Pete Herman

719

Jack Blackburn

83.4

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1901–1923
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Jack Blackburn

724

A'ja Wilson

83.3

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2018–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: A'ja Wilson

725

Candace Parker

83.3

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2008–2023
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Candace Parker

726

Bob Pettit

83.3

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1954–1965
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Bob Pettit

731

Bennie Borgmann

83.3

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1919–1942
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Bennie Borgmann

739

Beau Jack

83.3

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1940–1955
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Beau Jack

745

Seimone Augustus

83.2

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2006–2020
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Seimone Augustus

754

Rick Carey

83.2

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1981–1988
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 70.0

Athlete: Rick Carey

756

Bob Cousy

83.1

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1950–1970
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Bob Cousy

768

Mike Powell

83.1

Sport: Athletics
Career: 1984–1996
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Mike Powell

772

Tracy McGrady

83.1

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1997–2013
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Tracy McGrady

785

Jack Dillon

83.0

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1908–1923
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Jack Dillon

792

Dixie Kid

83.0

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1899–1914
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Dixie Kid

802

Terence Crawford

82.9

Sport: Boxing
Career: 2008–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Terence Crawford

805

Dwight Howard

82.9

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2004–2022
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Dwight Howard

807

Dave Cowens

82.9

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1970–1983
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Dave Cowens

808

Maurice Cheeks

82.9

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1978–1993
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Maurice Cheeks

809

Barney Ross

82.9

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1929–1938
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Barney Ross

811

Buddy Jeannette

82.9

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1938–1950
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Buddy Jeannette

821

Rocky Marciano

82.8

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1947–1956
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Rocky Marciano

825

Robert Parish

82.8

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1976–1997
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 84.0
Dominance: 74.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 96.0

Athlete: Robert Parish

828

Billy Cunningham

82.8

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1965–1976
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Billy Cunningham

837

Ralph Boston

82.8

Sport: Athletics
Career: 1960–1968
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Ralph Boston

838

Tyson Gay

82.8

Sport: Athletics
Career: 2005–2017
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Tyson Gay

840

Denise Curry

82.8

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1977–1990
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Denise Curry

#	Athlete	Sport	Country	Career	GOAT Score
623	Charles Barkley	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1984–2000	83.9
624	Scottie Pippen	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1987–2004	83.9
628	Dennis Johnson	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1976–1990	83.9
629	Spencer Haywood	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1969–1983	83.9
630	Bob McAdoo	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1972–1986	83.9
635	Shirley Babashoff	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1972–1978	83.9
643	Rai Benjamin	Athletics	🇺🇸 United States	2017–active	83.8
653	Chris Paul	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2005–active	83.7
655	Janet Evans	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1986–1996	83.7
660	Randy Barnes	Athletics	🇺🇸 United States	1986–1998	83.7
661	Tom Heinsohn	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1956–1965	83.7
662	Anne Donovan	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1979–1989	83.7
669	Dwyane Wade	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2003–2019	83.6
670	Elgin Baylor	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1958–1972	83.6
675	Joey Giardello	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1948–1967	83.6
684	Billie Jean King	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1959–1983	83.5
686	Ryan Lochte	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	2004–2021	83.5
687	Tina Thompson	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1997–2013	83.5
688	Katie Smith	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1996–2013	83.5
697	Louie Dampier	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1979	83.5
700	Earl Monroe	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1980	83.5
711	Bob Kurland	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1942–1952	83.4
716	Chris Mullin	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1985–2001	83.4
717	Jimmy Carter	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1946–1960	83.4
718	Pete Herman	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1912–1922	83.4
719	Jack Blackburn	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1901–1923	83.4
724	A'ja Wilson	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2018–active	83.3
725	Candace Parker	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2008–2023	83.3
726	Bob Pettit	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1954–1965	83.3
731	Bennie Borgmann	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1919–1942	83.3
739	Beau Jack	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1940–1955	83.3
745	Seimone Augustus	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2006–2020	83.2
754	Rick Carey	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1981–1988	83.2
756	Bob Cousy	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1950–1970	83.1
768	Mike Powell	Athletics	🇺🇸 United States	1984–1996	83.1
772	Tracy McGrady	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1997–2013	83.1
785	Jack Dillon	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1908–1923	83.0
792	Dixie Kid	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1899–1914	83.0
802	Terence Crawford	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	2008–active	82.9
805	Dwight Howard	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2004–2022	82.9
807	Dave Cowens	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1970–1983	82.9
808	Maurice Cheeks	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1978–1993	82.9
809	Barney Ross	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1929–1938	82.9
811	Buddy Jeannette	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1938–1950	82.9
821	Rocky Marciano	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1947–1956	82.8
825	Robert Parish	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1976–1997	82.8
828	Billy Cunningham	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1976	82.8
837	Ralph Boston	Athletics	🇺🇸 United States	1960–1968	82.8
838	Tyson Gay	Athletics	🇺🇸 United States	2005–2017	82.8
840	Denise Curry	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1977–1990	82.8

Compare the leaders

Michael Phelps vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Read the full methodology

Sport lists use the raw In-Sport GOAT Score. Cross-sport lists use the official competition-depth adjustment. No scores are recalculated for this page.

Read the full methodology

Frequently asked questions

How is this ranking calculated?

Five verified components are weighted consistently: dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.

Who is included?

According to GOAT Rank's current data model, only verified athletes with sufficient career history, metrics, honours and independent sources are eligible. Rank and score are read live.

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