Athletes Who Single-Handedly Make You Love Their Team
Kevin Durant has likely created some fans for the Oklahoma City Thunder—right? He's also probably not the only athlete single-handedly responsible for making people like his/her team.
It should be noted that this is not simply a list of likeable athletes. No, this is a list of athletes who play for teams that most people might not normally care about: the Golden State Warriors or Pittsburgh Pirates for instance. Otherwise neutral fans end up liking these teams because of one, fully awesome, so-darn-likeable player.
Unfortunately this excludes guys like Rob Gronkowski, who is uber-likeable but plays for a team that is generally despised by most people outside of New England. Even Gronk's bubbling personality won't make Pats fans out of most people.
You might like these players for their personalities, their talent or maybe just because they are due for some success. Whatever the reason, look out. These athletes just might turn you into a fan.
Honorable Mention: Clayton Kershaw
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Clayton Kershaw gets an honorable mention because the Los Angeles Dodgers get a decent amount of hate. Then again, dude just took a line drive to the face and stayed in the game. He's hard not to root for.
Russell Wilson
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The Seattle Seahawks drafted Russell Wilson in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft. Three years later, he’s been to two Super Bowls and won one.
Wilson's unexpected rise to the top has been swift, but he has remained grounded and humble throughout. Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News reported that head coach Pete Carroll said, “I don’t think we can have a better guy for the Seahawks than Russell Wilson.” Also, “That’s not even to mention the leadership qualities, the character that he brings, the tremendous competitiveness. He’s a perfect fit for us.”
Fans like him too—Wilson’s jersey was tops in NFL sales in 2014.
Mike Trout
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Phrases used to describe Mike Trout include “generational talent” and “five-tool player.” The 23-year-old Los Angeles Angels center fielder has certainly lived up to those descriptions thus far. He won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2012 and graduated to MVP honors in 2014.
While there are some who don’t love Trout’s teammate Albert Pujols, a once-in-a-lifetime talent like Trout should be enough to make a few Angels fans out there.
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Kevin Ware
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No. 14 seed Georgia State is out of the NCAA tournament, but not before it achieved a stunning first-round upset over the No. 3 seed Baylor.
Though GSU busted a lot of brackets, it was hard not to root for Kevin Ware’s new team. Ware, who suffered a gruesome leg injury during the 2013 Elite Eight with Louisville, made his return to the tourney this year with the Panthers. Everybody loves an upset, and everybody loves a comeback story.
Felix Hernandez
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It’s always tough to see an exceptional player on a less-than-exceptional team. Felix Hernandez has pitched all 10 of his major league seasons with the Seattle Mariners, a team that has failed to make the postseason during that span. He is a Cy Young winner, but never a 20-game winner. He pitched a perfect game, but never a playoff game.
Leading into the 2015 season, the Mariners have a talented pitching staff and improved offense. They actually look poised to have some success, and for Hernandez's sake, I hope they do.
J.J. Watt
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Come on—don’t you want to see the Houston Texans win a Super Bowl for J.J. Watt? The Pro Bowl defensive end not only dominates opposing quarterbacks, but he’s also a staple in the good-deed department. Plus he's absolutely killer with a mic on.
The Texans made the playoffs in Watt’s first two seasons, but they have gone from dismal to simply mediocre since then.
Skylar Diggins
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Like Kevin Durant, Skylar Diggins is likely responsible for some Oklahoma basketball fans. The Notre Dame alumna became a WNBA All-Star for the first time in 2014 and had the second most popular jersey. In fact, according to the WNBA announcement on merchandise sales, Diggins’ numbers helped propel her team, the Tulsa Shock, to No. 2 overall in team merchandise sales.
Diggins is repped by Jay Z, admired by Drake and has over a half-million Twitter followers. Her popularity will likely increase that of her team.
Miguel Cabrera
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In 2012, Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera won baseball’s first Triple Crown since 1967. He handled the accomplishment with reserved excitement and gratitude. In the tumultuous terrain of baseball’s post-steroids era, Cabrera is a hitter fans can be excited about again.
The Tigers have advanced to postseason play in each of the last four years, but they have been unable to capture their first World Series title since 1984. It would be nice to see one of the greatest hitters of this generation win a title, wouldn't it?
Also, just look at Miggy in these Zubaz pants. Awesome.
Andrew Hammond
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Andrew Hammond is the goaltender for the Ottawa Senators, and he’s having a pretty successful stretch. As of March 23, Hammond has a 13-0-1 record in 15 games played this season, as well as a .947 save percentage.
Hammond also goes by the nickname “Hamburglar” and wears a helmet bearing an image of the famous McDonald’s character. People really dig the nickname. In fact, a fan recently tossed a hamburger onto the ice after a Senators victory, and the owner of six Ottawa Golden Arches franchises promised Hammond free McDonald’s for life.
Great goalie, better helmet, hilarious nickname—sounds like a recipe for likeability to me.
Kevin Durant
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How many people would root for the Oklahoma City Thunder if it weren’t for Kevin Durant? It’s a question we’ll never know the answer to, but it’s an interesting question nonetheless.
Durant was really the first big star the team had after moving from Seattle in 2008. Over his eight-year career, he has not only been a great basketball star, but a humble and soft-spoken celebrity. His coach, Scott Brooks, told Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman, “He's as authentic as anybody. What you see is what you get, and what you see is an amazing, amazing person.”
Besides, how could you not root for his team to win a title after Durant's 2014 MVP acceptance speech?
Larry Fitzgerald
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Larry Fitzgerald is one of those guys you just want to see win a Super Bowl. The Pro Bowl wide receiver has played his entire 11-year career with the Arizona Cardinals. He has caught for over 1,000 yards six times and over 1,400 four times. He is also the franchise leader in catches, touchdowns and receiving yards.
Fitzgerald is a quiet leader and one of the best NFL receivers of the last 10 years. He was part of the Cardinals team that lost Super Bowl XLIII in gut-wrenching fashion in 2009. He also just signed a two-year extension with the Cardinals, who hope Fitzgerald will end his career where he started it.
Andrew McCutchen
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Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like a lot of people rooted for the Pittsburgh Pirates in last year’s National League Wild Card Game because, “I just love Andrew McCutchen—dude’s awesome!”
The Pirates center fielder and four-time All-Star is one of baseball’s best. During his MVP year in 2013, he batted .317 and led his team in batting average, runs, hits, doubles, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Besides his skills on the field, he’s also just genuinely likeable. Don’t believe me? Watch this video of him imitating other stars’ batting stances or read his eloquent thoughts on the status of youth baseball on The Players’ Tribune.
Draymond Green
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The Golden State Warriors, collectively, are making people like them this season. From sharp-shooting MVP candidate Stephen Curry to first-year head coach and NBA legend Steve Kerr, the whole team just has an air about it.
In particular, however, I’d like to point out third-year forward Draymond Green. Since the Warriors took him with the No. 35 pick in the 2012 NBA draft, Green has evolved from a role player to a vital contributor who may even command a max contract this offseason.
That, and he has provided some off-court hilarity. There was his reaction to the Dahntay Jones postgame bump, followed later by his “Cool story, Glenn” retort to Doc Rivers.
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