The 16 Athletes Whom Every Fan Should See Play at Least Once

As sports fans, there's a reason why we've all been in the difficult position of deciding between sticking to our monthly budget or dropping hundreds of dollars on a sporting event in order to see a superstar athlete. It could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

More often than not, we say screw the budget and spend the cash.

That's because when an athlete is more than just a superstar and falls under the category of an icon and once-in-a-generation talent, it should be a no-brainer—as a fan, you must see him/her play.

For all those stories that our moms, dads, aunts and uncles told us about Hall of Famers they saw play live, here are the 16 athletes whom our current generation needs to see play at least once.

Jaromir Jagr

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The guy might be ancient when looking at his age in comparison to other active players, but seeing how he's still successful, it's almost the reason why fans should be lining up to see Jaromir Jagr before he calls it quits.

Playing in his 22nd NHL season, Jagr doesn't appear as if he's slowing down either, reaching the All-Star Game once again this season as he's about to reach his 44th birthday. He's showing that, somewhere along the way, he found the Fountain of Youth.

Who knows what the future holds for the future Hall of Famer?

But unlike other athletes in different sports who have become icons and wilt away as they age, Jagr continues to be a fine wine that gets better and better with every sip.

Giancarlo Stanton

Forget the fact that Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton has God-given talent in all aspects of his game, and let's just focus on the moonshots the guy is capable of hitting anytime he steps to the plate.

For that alone, Stanton is worth seeing live.

After signing him to a record 13-year, $325 million extension last offseason, his team unfortunately hasn't shown that it can be as appealing as he is. However, that doesn't mean any fan should let Stanton leave town without seeing him dig in at the plate—because he may just set a new record for the longest home run your eyes will ever see.

J.J. Watt

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In 2015, J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans finished with 17.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and eight passes defensed, which are insane numbers for a defensive end...and he still didn't have as great a campaign as he did in 2014.

That doesn't mean Watt is slipping up, though, as he led the league in sacks and is still the most dominant defensive player in the NFL.

Every once in a while, there comes a player who redefines his position, takes what former superstars did and brings it to the next level, and that's exactly what Watt has done with the defensive end position.

Oh yeah, and did I mention that he can play a little offense, too? The dude sure can do it all and is well worth any price of admission to see him play live.

Ben Simmons

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Hailed by Politicus Sports as the most exciting player in college hoops this season, LSU Tigers freshman sensation Ben Simmons has brought electricity to the Bayou.

Compared to LeBron James by many because of size, agility, talent and potential, Simmons has that rare skill of getting others involved more than taking over a game himself, which—as a freshman—is probably why he defers to his mates.

That might be the only knock on the kid thus far in his first—and presumably, only—collegiate season, because, for all intents and purposes, this is the NBA's next superstar.

Who knows where he'll end up or how his hoops career will go? Be prepared for the hype, though, because Simmons is going to be talked about as if he were a member of The Beatles, and every basketball fan should wait in line to see him perform.

Antonio Brown

Look, I wouldn't even be upset if someone spent the next 15 minutes trying to convince me that Antonio Brown is the best wide receiver in the NFL and, without question, one of the most dynamic players in the league.

Truth be told, it wouldn't take much.

After all, the Pittsburgh Steelers wideout has nearly surpassed 1,500 yards in three straight seasons, leading the league in catches in the past two years and picking up four Pro Bowl appearances.

As great as he is catching the passes, Brown is just as scary as a punt returner, as he has proved the ability to change the outcome of a game in the blink of an eye with shifty moves and ridiculous speed.

It goes without saying that he's an entertainer who loves the spotlight, too, as he's shown with his crazy Lego-like haircut and amazing touchdown celebrations.

Connor McDavid

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The second coming of Wayne Gretzky? When a player who's still just 19 years old gets that type of billing, you've got my attention.

Such is the case for Connor McDavid, who—after years of tearing it up in junior leagues—finally became the No. 1 pick in last year's NHL draft and found himself on the Edmonton Oilers.

While McDavid suffered an unfortunate setback when he suffered a collarbone injury in just his 13th NHL game, he'll still be the most desirable player to see live once he returns.

It's rare that a prodigy comes along who has the responsibility of carrying the entire sport of hockey into the next generation, but that's McDavid's task—and we should all want to see how it unfolds.

Russell Wilson

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Is Russell Wilson flashy? Nope. That doesn't mean the Seattle Seahawks quarterback is boring, though—far from it, actually.

In his four seasons in the NFL, Wilson has guided his Hawks to the playoffs each year, including two Super Bowls (one victory), proving he was quite the steal in the third round of the 2012 draft.

Along the way, Danger Russ has given fans moments that are almost hard to believe, with a Hail Mary on Monday Night Football in his rookie campaign, an epic comeback in the NFC title game in 2014 and a play in this year's playoffs against the Minnesota Vikings that both saved Seattle's season and could only be made by him.

As elusive as any player in the league, Wilson uses his shiftiness and will to make his teammates better—and he is a joy to watch for any football fan because of that.

Andrew McCutchen

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A former league MVP and the undisputed leader of the Pittsburgh Pirates, five-time All-Star Andrew McCutchen is more than just a great ballplayer, but a role model who's easy for fans to root for.

In addition to the way he revitalized the Pirates organization, guiding them to three straight playoff appearances after a two-decade-long drought—Cutch is an active participant in the community, even winning the Roberto Clemente Award this past season for all the work he's done.

A five-tool player who can excite on defense, absolutely fly on the basepaths and deliver memorable moments in the clutch, Andrew McCutchen is a throwback type player that has a youthful enthusiasm that's awesome to witness.

Odell Beckham Jr.

I've been on this earth for 31 years, have watched football for about 27 of those years and can't remember a wide receiver who was as polarizing as Odell Beckham Jr. of the New York Giants is.

That's not meant as disrespect to greats who came before him like Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin, Randy Moss or Terrell Owens, among others, but as a compliment to OBJ for seizing his opportunity since entering the league in 2014.

Those legendary receivers all had their own things that made them great and popular, but Beckham Jr. has the luxury of living in the social media age where everything he does gets magnified the second it happens.

Whether that means pulling in ridiculous one-handed catches or rocking some custom cleats, the kid knows how to be the star of the show each and every week.

Thankfully, a lot of that attention comes from his play, as he's already the most electric receiver in the game and could become an all-timer—even as ridiculous as that sounds with him just finishing his second season.

Vladimir Tarasenko

Often compared to legend Pavel Bure, the St. Louis Blues' Vladimir Tarasenko might not be as popular as other players in the league, but with a skill set that mirrors the aforementioned Bure, he's every bit as exciting.

Displaying the rare combo of puck-handling, shot power, speed and imagination, Tarasenko provides hockey fans with edge-of-your-seat type moments that fill highlight reels on a nightly basis.

Sure, Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby's accomplishments and skills speak for themselves, but it's Tarasenko who might just be the most electrifying player in the NHL right now.

LeBron James

LeBron James may no longer be the flavor of the moment or future in the NBA, that belongs to Steph Curry, but there's no denying that anytime James takes the floor, it's must-see TV.

That's what happens when a guy has been scrutinized and as successful and LeBron has been ever since he was a teenager, single-handedly popularizing the high school game and making hoops fans care about the "Next Big Thing."

For over a decade, that big thing has been James, who has led his teams to five straight NBA Finals and has made it his personal mission to win a ring for his native Northeast Ohio.

He still has a few solid years left in the tank, but it'd be wise to see James and his megastar Cleveland Cavaliers team win sooner rather than later as they continue to be the beasts in the Eastern Conference.

Peyton Manning and Tom Brady

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I know that Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are two different people, but because they've been conjoined at the hip in terms of head-to-head matchups and rivalries, I just had to put them together.

After meeting least once in every season since 2001, these two future Hall of Fame signal-callers are the purest and most dominant players at their position that we've ever seen.

With five Super Bowl rings between them—with Manning getting the chance to add another this season—Manning and Brady signify what it means to be great.

With the speculation that Super Bowl 50 could be Peyton's last career game, though, seeing these two on the same field may have already passed—but here's to hoping we get at least one more year to see them battle one another.

Bryce Harper

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Last season's NL MVP, Bryce Harper had always been hyped as the next superstar in the big leagues, but many found it easy to criticize the kid for not living up to their expectations.

That all changed in 2015, as the three-time All-Star proved that he wasn't just a guy who made the Midsummer Classic because of the popular vote, but because he's one hell of a ballplayer.

With all of his success and the talk about him, it's hard to forget that Harper's still only 23 years old, meaning fans should have plenty of time to see this kid not only continue to develop, but also show off the goods as he reaches the peak of what type of player he can be.

Point blank: The dude is a special talent who is still years from a finished product.

Lionel Messi

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Come on, now, who wouldn't want to see a five-time Ballon d'Or winner play soccer?

What Lionel Messi has done during the course of his career has been nothing short of spectacular, as he's rewritten the record books on his way to becoming the second coming of Diego Maradona in Argentine football.

While Messi is one of the most popular and successful athletes on the planet, somehow, one gets the sense that he still doesn't get enough credit because of the sport he plays and the countries in which he plays in.

That doesn't mean he isn't a magician with a soccer ball nearby, though, who is still the most exciting player on the pitch.

Cam Newton

Does anyone have more fun on a football field than the Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton? Based off of his dabbing and electric smile all season long, probably not.

Newton, who is the front-runner for this year's league MVP, led his Carolina team to a 15-1 regular-season record and a berth in Super Bowl 50 off more than just fun, though, as he took a giant leap forward in showing that he has the potential to be the next great signal-caller in this new generation.

A beast who stands 6'5" and weighs 245 pounds, Cam can run through, around and throw over opposing players at will, making him a talent that the league has never seen before.

Stephen Curry

With regards to the aforementioned LeBron James, there's a new king on the block, and it comes in the form of a baby-faced assassin named Stephen Curry.

Last year's league MVP was phenomenal in guiding his Golden State Warriors to an NBA title last season but has been even filthier in his encore campaign, doing things that no one has ever seen.

Representing a new wave of athletes like Cam Newton and Bryce Harper, Steph plays with a fiery passion that's also infectious for anyone who sees him play.

On any given night, Curry could drop 50-plus with ridiculous shots from all over the court, or go quiet until the fourth quarter where he heats up and carries the Dubs to a win. Bottom line, it's always a show with Steph on the floor.