Recently, Harris published the 2011 edition, and Kobe fell slightly, from first to third, tied with Michael Jordan.
Still, since Derek Jeter and Peyton Manning were the only two athletes ahead of him in the final poll, Kobe remains the highest-ranking (active) NBA player.
But I don't think that's entirely accurate. I have to believe that right now, Dirk Nowitzki is the most popular player—and not worldwide, but in America as well.
Certainly part of the reason I say that is because of the immediacy of the Mavericks' victory in the NBA Finals. As Yahoo! reporter Eric Freeman noted:
It's not a surprise to learn that Bryant and [LeBron] James have dropped on this list, because popularity in America is often tied to winning at the highest levels. In the past, both players have been divisive, to the point where they've only been considered likable when they win championships. With the Lakers losing to the Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs, Bryant is no longer the league's golden god.
So in some way, Dirk has stolen some of that "golden god" status just by being the figurehead and star of the most recent NBA champion.
But I think there's also just a natural likability about a player who spent so long chasing that first title as opposed to someone winning their fourth or fifth. There's something "new" about Dirk now that he has shed the labels of being a choker or a non-winner and even being "soft"—playing with the flu is part of that, but so too is the fact that he did get to the basket repeatedly in the win over Miami.
Look at John Elway—he was often ridiculed for failing in three Super Bowls ,but by winning one after all that criticism, he soared up the charts in terms of popularity.
And look at what happened ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
