From Serena Williams to Shohei Ohtani: Biggest Stars Who Won AP Athlete of the Year Before Aaron Judge

Initiated by the Associated Press in the year 1931, the award was given to a male and a female athlete, with American sports being its prime focus. Here’s a list of some of the most iconic faces to have received the accolade.

#5 Stephen Curry

In 2015, Stephen Curry became the 4th basketball player to have won the award in its 92-year history. The only other basketball players to have won are LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird.

#4 Simone Biles

Simone Biles has won the award twice, with the first time being in 2016 when she secured 4 gold medals at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and again in 2019.

#3 Shohei Ohtani

2021 was quite the season for Shohei Ohtani. The Los Angeles Angels pitcher broke a 3-year streak of NBA players winning the AP award.

#2 Serena Williams

Serena Williams won the honor for the fifth time in her career in the year 2018. More than her performance, it was her circumstance that made her win the award that year.

#1 LeBron James

The Los Angeles Lakers forward floored everyone with his on-court performance by winning the NBA championship in 2020. Combined with his activism during the elections and his activity off-court, he was definitely worthy of the honor.

“More Than a Gym”: Lindsey Vonn Tempts Millions of Followers to Promote Close Friend Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s Brand

“He Dropped to His Knees”: Simone Biles’ Emotional Brother Was Left in Disbelief After Her 2013 Achievement

“I Had to Hold Off”: Michael Phelps Was Scared of Losing to an Eleven-Year-Old Girl in 2018

Read More