Las Vegas is a quick-growing sports town with superstars fans have come to know and love. Here are our top athletes in Las Vegas right now.
#6 Kurt Busch retired NASCAR Cup Series driver
Redemption can transform even the most despised athlete into the next fan favorite. This is the case with Kurt Busch, who has gone from heel to hero throughout his career.
The Las Vegas native’s temper got him in the most trouble. He was belligerent to veteran drivers and unafraid to use his bumper. Those two things helped him to a championship in 2003 but also threatened his career.
Kurt Busch kept getting into incidents off the track and worrying NASCAR officials. He threatened a reporter while already on probation, flipped off Obama’s motorcade, and trash-talked his team on air.
He eventually went into anger management and that’s when you saw the change happen. He slowly grew into the good guy. Of course, Busch may never drive again after his qualifying crash in 2022, but he will forever be a fan favorite to many.
#5 Kyle Busch, NASCAR Cup Series driver
And then there’s Kyle Busch, another Las Vegas native who followed a similar trajectory to his brother. He was a bold and brash trash talker and also loved to duke it out. This man was determined to be the best driver in NASCAR and was enraged whenever he came up short.
A perfect example is a 2011 Camping World Truck Series race, in which Busch wrecked another driver under caution.
Things changed in 2017 when Busch had a bad accident at Daytona International Raceway. He had two surgeries and rehabbed for 11 weeks before returning to the track. While Busch struggled at first, he went on to win three races during the regular season and fought his way to his first Cup Series champion.
#4 Mark Stone, Las Vegas Golden Knights right winger.
From being named a captain in the inaugural season to finally hoisting the Stanley Cup trophy in 2023, Mark Stone has done it all. He’s one of the toughest players in Las Vegas sports and very consistent.
It’s impossible not to love a guy who dedicated six years of his life to winning a championship in Las Vegas. Stone is one of the original misfits who believed in the vision of a powerful team in Sin City. Now he’s chasing a second championship win.
#3 Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end
Maxx Crosby is many things. He’s arguably one of the Las Vegas Raiders’ best defensive players and hosts a weekly podcast, “The Rush with Maxx Crosby.”
In 2023, he hit 90 combined tackles, 35 assisted tackles, and 14.5 sacks. Those numbers make him a game-changer for the Raiders, and fans love that.
#2 A’ja Wilson Las Vegas Aces small forward
Aja Wilson is the kind of athlete sports fans dream of. She never got the red carpet treatment that Cailtyn Clark did, but she’s a big reason behind the Las Vegas Aces’ back-to-back championships.
Wilson is one of the most popular players on Team USA as well and has six All-star game selections. She is also a former Finals MVP in 2022.
#1 Davantae Adams, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Davantae Adams is so popular that Las Vegas Raiders fans get terrified every time trade rumors surface. He’s a super athlete with some of the best hands in the league.
In 2023, Adams had 103 catches for 1144 yards and eight touchdowns. He has also had over 1,000 yards in the past four seasons, making him a consistent threat. His one million Instagram followers know that and love him for it.
Next: 5 Las Vegas Golden Knights that recently left the team
