LeBron James (picture) has overtaken Michael Jordan as the US most popular athlete, according to a Harris poll.
Almost from the moment James exploded onto the NBA scene as the number one overall pick in the 2003 draft, a debate has raged over who was the better of the two basketball superstars.
Jordan had held the top honour from 1993-2005 and again in 2013 before being supplanted this year by James, who was ranked no.2 in 2013.
It is likely that James is even more popular after the four-time NBA most valuable player decided last week to return to Cleveland Cavaliers following a successful four-year run with Miami Heat that brought the team two NBA titles.
The poll was conducted between June 11 and 16 before James, a 10-time All-Star, made his decision.
There was no change at the top among America’s most favourite female athletes with tennis’s Serena Williams for a fifth straight year.