Everyone can feel proud of these five Las Vegas sports stars. They’re the most improved athletes in the city!
#5 Mack Hollins: Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Mack Hollins signed a deal with the Raiders in 2022 and has managed to stand out despite the stacked roster. Hollins racked up an impressive total of 51 receptions for 628 yards, 12.3 yards a play, and four touchdowns this season. This makes Hollins the second-best receiver on the Raiders behind only Davantae Adams.
That’s better than his 2021 effort with the Dolphins, where he managed 14 receptions for 223 yards, and four touchdowns. He did have some great stats with the Dolphins that year but showed more consistency with the Raiders. Las Vegas has also come to rely on him in Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow’s absence. He is definitely someone that the Raiders are going to want to keep around for years to come.
#4 Noah Gragson: Las Vegas native NASCAR driver
What impact will Noah Gragson have on the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023? That question might sound absurd considering that the Las Vegas native is an inexperienced rookie, but he has a lot of potential for greatness. Gragson is joining Petty, GMS in 2023, who recently introduced seven-time Cup Series champion, Jimmie Johnson, as a partner.
This promotion is no doubt due to his skyrocketing fame in the sport and his dominant 2022 Xfinity Series season. He notched eight wins, 21 top-fives, and 22 top-tens, but was outdone for the championship by Ty Gibbs. Compare that to his three wins, 13 top fives, and 20 top tens in 2021, and there is just so much growth.
#3 Logan Thompson: Las Vegas Golden Knights goaltender
While Logan Thompson might have started as a backup for Robin Lehner and Laurent Brossoit, things quickly changed. The young goalie went from a 10-5 record in 2021 to a 14-8 record in 2022. He also has only allowed 58 goals this season, which gives him a goals-against average of 2.64. All this while, Lehner remains on the shelf for the year and Brossioit got put on waivers.
Compare that to his GAA of 2.68 in 2021 as a backup and you can see just how good he is. When you take into consideration the Las Vegas Golden Knights’ 22-10-1 record this season, it’s hard to deny that Thompson isn’t a contributing factor. He could even help lead the Golden Knights to a championship in 2023 if the team returns to full health.
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#2 Kelsey Plum: Las Vegas Aces guard
Kelsey Plum is now on the top of the WNBA mountain next to her Las Vegas Aces teammates, but her career was almost over two years ago. This was due to a torn Achilles tendon that forced her to miss the 2020 season. She also had to undergo surgery and spent much of the next year on the bench.
Fast forward to 2022 and she went from 14.9 points off the bench, to 20.2. She also averaged one steal, five assists, 2.7 rebounds, and a 3-point percentage of .420 a game. As if that wasn’t enough, she also won the Most Improved WNBA Player of the Year and helped Las Vegas to a championship. She has truly come a long way since her injury in 2020
#1 Joshua Jacobs: Las Vegas Raiders running back
Joshua Jacobs is having a career year with the Raiders, and it’s hard to argue that they would be in the same position without him. Not only is that evident by his 1,495 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 291 attempts, but also due to how many times he has saved the day.
Jacobs even ran it in for a touchdown during overtime that gave the Raiders a crucial victory over the Seahawks this season. This was also the first play of overtime and left many fans in the stands shocked at the result. For all intents and purposes, Joshua Jacobs has been a miracle for this team.
Next: How you can help the Las Vegas Raiders raise awareness for charity this holiday season!
