2025 SI Sports Person of the Year

[Webster]

Sure, people have never heard of the MVP and best player on a championship team, who is frequently mentioned in every type and form of sports media.

 

[I Should Coco]

Sad but true: More Americans younger than 25 will not know what Sports Illustrated is than not know who SGA is.

 

[HanSenSE]

Sad but true: More Americans younger than 25 will not what Sports Illustrated is than not know who SGA is.

I'm old enough to remember what SI was. Dan Jenkins. Dr Z. Ron Fimrite. Kenny Moore. Reilly. Rushin. Just to name a few. Plus, photography that would blow your socks off, and not just in the swimsuit issue. Now?

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

I'm old enough to remember what SI was. Dan Jenkins. Dr Z. Ron Fimrite. Kenny Moore. Reilly. Rushin. Just to name a few. Plus, potography that would blow your socks off, a dancer not just in the swimsuit issue. Now?

Let's not forget Kathy Ireland. :D

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Also, how do you not know who SGA is, he was great in The Client.

 

[I Should Coco]

Let's not forget Kathy Ireland. :D

My first year of college, 1990-91, my roommate had the SI Swimsuit calendar, featuring "inspiring" photos each month. Elle MacPherson ... yes!

 

[Chet Lemon]

It’s perfectly reasonable that people here wouldn’t be familiar with SGA with the way sports are fragmented (like everything else) these days and how impossible it is to keep track of everything.

But he’s the reigning MVP of the NBA champions who currently sit at 29-5.

It’s a completely defensible pick by SI.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Sure, people have never heard of the MVP and best player on a championship team, who is frequently mentioned in every type and form of sports media.

Never read a Harry Potter book, never seen a Marvel movie and haven't watched a Star Wars movie since the original either.

I don't follow the NBA AT ALL. I've vaguely heard of the guy and had no idea who he played for. Why is that so hard for you to accept.

 

[Chet Lemon]

Never read a Harry Potter book, never seen a Marvel movie and haven't watched a Star Wars movie since the original either.

I don't follow the NBA AT ALL. I've vaguely heard of the guy and had no idea who he played for. Why is that so hard for you to accept.

That’s understandable, but you said it “sad” that SI had “sunk into irrelevance,” as if this pick was a symptom of that. If they had picked a famous soccer player, I likely would not have heard of him, but I wouldn’t necessarily see it as a poor reflection on SI.

 

[micropolitan guy]

That’s understandable, but you said it “sad” that SI had “sunk into irrelevance,” as if this pick was a symptom of that. If they had picked a famous soccer player, I likely would not have heard of him, but I wouldn’t necessarily see it as a poor reflection on SI.

SI has sunk to irrelevance because its "Sportsman of the Year" announcement used to be one of the biggest sports stories of the year. SI used to be one of the most influential media outlets in the country, staffed by the greatest sports writers in the country, with millions of subscribers eagerly awaiting each issue on Thursday or Friday.

None of that is true in 2025.

 

[Chet Lemon]

SI has sunk to irrelevance because its "Sportsman of the Year" announcement used to be one of the biggest sports stories of the year. SI used to be one of the most influential media outlets in the country, staffed by the greatest sports writers in the country.

Neither is true in 2025.

That I agree with. It floors me that they squandered every drop of brand currency they accumulated over decades and decades in a matter of 5-10 years. At least they knocked it off with the social media click baiting at some point.

 

[Webster]

Never read a Harry Potter book, never seen a Marvel movie and haven't watched a Star Wars movie since the original either.

I don't follow the NBA AT ALL. I've vaguely heard of the guy and had no idea who he played for. Why is that so hard for you to accept.

By that logic, there is literally no winner of the award playing the NBA who wouldn’t be evidence of how SI has sunken into irrelevance.

 

[micropolitan guy]

By that logic, there is literally no winner of the award playing the NBA who wouldn’t be evidence of how SI has sunken into irrelevance.

No, the award no longer ranks anywhere close to where it once did, no matter who wins it. SI in no way, shape or form is as influential or important as it was back in the day. It's like winning the Sullivan Award or the Hickock Belt, two other once-prestigious awards nobody even knows or cares about anymore.

 

[BTExpress]

It really never was THAT big a deal. And could often be predicted. American who had a very good year. Olympian an automatic choice every four years. I mean, Pete Rose won it once.

But when they start with the multiple people winning it in a given year crap, its relevance falls off a cliff.

 

[DanOregon]

I do wonder if they reached out to Ohtani, said the "honor" comes with an extended feature story and they'd need to get into his (friend's) gambling stuff and Ohtani's people took a pass. I could only imagine how many sponsors he would have brought to the issue.
Though who knows with SI's print schedule these days, maybe it was already decided prior to the end of the Series?

 

[Pickleballgolds]

Never read a Harry Potter book, never seen a Marvel movie and haven't watched a Star Wars movie since the original either.

I don't follow the NBA AT ALL. I've vaguely heard of the guy and had no idea who he played for. Why is that so hard for you to accept.

I think I can name half a dozen active NBA players, but maybe not; is Walt Frazier still playing?

 

[dixiehack]

I don’t follow the NBA and vaguely knew SGA was on the Thunder and that they have obviously been wrecking shop.

I do remember him from his stay at Kentucky. You’ll be shocked to learn Calipari didn’t get the most out of him and he was considered a mild disappointment for Big Blue.

If this was SGA of the Philadelphia 76ers coming off a championship run, I think there is less “Who he?” among Joe Public.

 

[Gym Beam]

I only know (vaguely) who the guy is because I asked a senior in our youth group who the best players in the NBA are right now. He filled me in on Gilgeous-Alexander a little bit. Like a few others, I pay very little attention to the NBA anymore, especially since they stopped calling traveling.

 

[BTExpress]

I first knew who he was because he's the only name that has to be shortened when I run NBA Leaders (I guess Giannis doesn't have enough games to qualify, because he was the only other name that had to be shortened). But if this wasn't literally my job, I doubt I would know the name.

 

[Cosmo]

He's been the anchor of my fantasy basketball keeper team for four years now, so I'm aware of him. Ha.