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

1014

Layla McCarter

81.9

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1998–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Layla McCarter

1017

Tom Gola

81.9

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1952–1966
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Tom Gola

1022

Debbie Meyer

81.9

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1967–1972
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 66.0

Athlete: Debbie Meyer

1031

Cynthia Cooper

81.8

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1986–2003
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Cynthia Cooper

1032

Sheryl Swoopes

81.8

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1997–2011
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Sheryl Swoopes

1033

Pernell Whitaker

81.8

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1984–2001
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Pernell Whitaker

1038

Cappie Pondexter

81.8

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2006–2018
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Cappie Pondexter

1042

Gary Hall Jr.

81.8

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1994–2004
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Gary Hall Jr.

1044

Dwight Phillips

81.8

Sport: Athletics
Career: 2000–2013
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Dwight Phillips

1055

Patrick Ewing

81.7

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1985–2002
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 87.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Patrick Ewing

1058

Ann Wolfe

81.7

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1998–2006
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Ann Wolfe

1062

Charles Cooper

81.7

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1929–1946
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Charles Cooper

1065

Melissa Belote

81.7

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1971–1976
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 64.0

Athlete: Melissa Belote

1067

Jimmy Bivins

81.7

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

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Jimmy Bivins

1074

Seniesa Estrada

81.6

Sport: Boxing
Career: 2011–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Seniesa Estrada

1079

John Beckman

81.6

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1910–1932
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 82.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: John Beckman

1080

Cheryl Miller

81.6

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1982–1986
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 55.0

Athlete: Cheryl Miller

1081

Jeff Chandler

81.6

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1976–1984
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Jeff Chandler

1087

Wayne Embry

81.6

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1958–1969
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Wayne Embry

1092

Sandy Saddler

81.5

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1944–1956
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Sandy Saddler

1099

Anthony Ervin

81.5

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1999–2016
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Anthony Ervin

1100

Gertrude Ederle

81.5

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1921–1928
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 66.0

Athlete: Gertrude Ederle

1102

Lou Ambers

81.5

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1932–1941
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Lou Ambers

1106

Forrest DeBernardi

81.5

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1920–1932
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 82.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Forrest DeBernardi

1114

Tom Jager

81.4

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1984–1992
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Tom Jager

1115

Becky Hammon

81.4

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1999–2014
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Becky Hammon

1123

Gary Payton

81.3

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1990–2007
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Gary Payton

1126

Draymond Green

81.3

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2012–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Draymond Green

1128

Pam Shriver

81.3

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1978–1997
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 92.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Pam Shriver

1130

Arthur Ashe

81.3

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1966–1980
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Arthur Ashe

1131

George McGinnis

81.3

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1971–1982
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: George McGinnis

1132

Bob Lanier

81.3

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1970–1984
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Bob Lanier

1133

Billy Conn

81.3

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1934–1948
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Billy Conn

1134

Holly Holm

81.3

Sport: Boxing
Career: 2002–2013
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Holly Holm

1135

Lou Groza

81.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1946–1967
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 94.0
Longevity: 98.0

Athlete: Lou Groza

1141

Bill Bradley

81.3

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1967–1977
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Bill Bradley

1143

John McEnroe

81.2

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1976–1994
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 89.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: John McEnroe

1148

Calvin Murphy

81.2

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

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Calvin Murphy

1159

Carmen Basilio

81.2

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1948–1961
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Carmen Basilio

1160

Sammy Baugh

81.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1937–1952
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 92.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 92.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Sammy Baugh

1165

Maya Moore

81.1

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2011–2018
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 89.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 87.0
Longevity: 70.0

Athlete: Maya Moore

1167

Allen Iverson

81.1

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1996–2011
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Allen Iverson

1168

Vince Carter

81.1

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1998–2020
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 72.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 74.0
Longevity: 96.0

Athlete: Vince Carter

1169

Nneka Ogwumike

81.1

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2012–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Nneka Ogwumike

1175

Lenny Krayzelburg

81.1

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1997–2004
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 70.0

Athlete: Lenny Krayzelburg

1177

Slater Martin

81.1

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1949–1960
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Slater Martin

1182

Mike Gibbons

81.1

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1908–1922
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Mike Gibbons

1185

Gene Tunney

81.0

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1915–1928
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Gene Tunney

1186

Winky Wright

81.0

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1990–2012
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Winky Wright

1191

Amanda Beard

81.0

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1996–2008
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 82.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Amanda Beard

#	Athlete	Sport	Country	Career	GOAT Score
1014	Layla McCarter	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1998–active	81.9
1017	Tom Gola	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1952–1966	81.9
1022	Debbie Meyer	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1972	81.9
1031	Cynthia Cooper	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1986–2003	81.8
1032	Sheryl Swoopes	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1997–2011	81.8
1033	Pernell Whitaker	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1984–2001	81.8
1038	Cappie Pondexter	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2006–2018	81.8
1042	Gary Hall Jr.	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1994–2004	81.8
1044	Dwight Phillips	Athletics	🇺🇸 United States	2000–2013	81.8
1055	Patrick Ewing	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1985–2002	81.7
1058	Ann Wolfe	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1998–2006	81.7
1062	Charles Cooper	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1929–1946	81.7
1065	Melissa Belote	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1971–1976	81.7
1067	Jimmy Bivins	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1940–1955	81.7
1074	Seniesa Estrada	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	2011–active	81.6
1079	John Beckman	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1910–1932	81.6
1080	Cheryl Miller	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1982–1986	81.6
1081	Jeff Chandler	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1976–1984	81.6
1087	Wayne Embry	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1958–1969	81.6
1092	Sandy Saddler	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1944–1956	81.5
1099	Anthony Ervin	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1999–2016	81.5
1100	Gertrude Ederle	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1921–1928	81.5
1102	Lou Ambers	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1932–1941	81.5
1106	Forrest DeBernardi	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1920–1932	81.5
1114	Tom Jager	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1984–1992	81.4
1115	Becky Hammon	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1999–2014	81.4
1123	Gary Payton	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1990–2007	81.3
1126	Draymond Green	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2012–active	81.3
1128	Pam Shriver	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1978–1997	81.3
1130	Arthur Ashe	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1966–1980	81.3
1131	George McGinnis	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1971–1982	81.3
1132	Bob Lanier	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1970–1984	81.3
1133	Billy Conn	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1934–1948	81.3
1134	Holly Holm	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	2002–2013	81.3
1135	Lou Groza	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1946–1967	81.3
1141	Bill Bradley	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1977	81.3
1143	John McEnroe	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1976–1994	81.2
1148	Calvin Murphy	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1970–1983	81.2
1159	Carmen Basilio	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1948–1961	81.2
1160	Sammy Baugh	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1937–1952	81.2
1165	Maya Moore	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2011–2018	81.1
1167	Allen Iverson	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1996–2011	81.1
1168	Vince Carter	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1998–2020	81.1
1169	Nneka Ogwumike	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2012–active	81.1
1175	Lenny Krayzelburg	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1997–2004	81.1
1177	Slater Martin	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1949–1960	81.1
1182	Mike Gibbons	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1908–1922	81.1
1185	Gene Tunney	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1915–1928	81.0
1186	Winky Wright	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1990–2012	81.0
1191	Amanda Beard	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1996–2008	81.0

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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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