SNY's staff cast ballots to rank the top 10 New York athletes right now.
To be considered for the list, a player must have already played for a New York team (meaning a new signing isn't eligible).
Additionally, if a player has played sparingly since coming to New York or has missed most or all of this season (Gerrit Cole for example), they were not included in this ranking.
How a player has performed most recently had the biggest impact on his/her placement on the list, but their entire career in New York was factored in — as was postseason performance.
Without further ado, here is the list…
No. 10: Dexter Lawrence, Giants
"Sexy Dexy" has done nothing but continue to get better since receiving his big-money contract extension two years ago. Lawrence missed some time due to injury last year, but he remained a force in the middle of Big Blue's defense when healthy. He earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance after racking up 16 quarterback hits and a career-high 9.0 sacks. There's no reason to believe his production will slow down with rookie Abdul Carter joining the Giants' already-loaded defensive front.
No. 9: Sabrina Ionescu, Liberty
Ionescu was a big reason why New York City saw its first professional basketball title since 1973 as she helped the franchise win its first-ever WNBA championship last year. Ionescu's game-winning shot in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals will go down as the biggest shot in Liberty history, and she's arguably having her best season in 2025, with career highs in points and steals. The former first-overall pick is the most recognizable star on the team, thanks to her regular season performances, four-time All-Star selections, setting the WNBA record with 37 points in 2023's three-point contest, and taking Steph Curry to the limit in the "Sabrina vs. Stephen" competition last year.
No. 8: Malik Nabers, Giants
Longevity be damned. Nabers needed just one NFL season to prove that he is the most electric playmaker the Giants have had since Odell Beckham Jr. Nabers racked up 1,204 receiving yards on 109 catches even as Giants QBs struggled all season. Pairing Nabers with Russell Wilson, and eventually Jaxson Dart, could take his ridiculously high ceiling even higher.
No. 7: Garrett Wilson, Jets
Wilson just cashed in with a $130 million extension, and it’s hard to argue against the Ohio State product being viewed as one of the most talented young receivers in the NFL. Despite shaky quarterback play, Wilson has eclipsed 1,000 yards in all three of his pro seasons, and he’s as dynamic a weapon as there is in the NFL, as evidenced by his ridiculous one-handed touchdown grab against the Texans last season. Just imagine what his numbers could look like with a consistent presence throwing him the ball.
No. 6: Pete Alonso, Mets
After a down year in 2024, Alonso is in the midst of the best season he's had since his rookie campaign and his most well-rounded one ever. An All-Star for the fifth time, Alonso has thrust himself into the MVP conversation just a few months before he'll again hit the free agent market. How his Mets future will unfold remains to be seen, but he will soon become a part of Mets history when he passes Darryl Strawberry on the franchise's all-time home run list.
No. 5: Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks
KAT was acquired in last offseason's blockbuster deal with the Mavericks with the expectation that he'd provide Jalen Brunson with a much-needed No. 2 — and that's exactly what he did. The big man earned his fifth career All-Star nod and All-NBA third team honors after averaging 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across 72 games during his first year in the Big Apple.
No. 4: Juan Soto, Mets
Soto had a relatively slow first month and change with the Mets, but became supercharged once the calendar flipped to June. He was somehow left off the All-Star team despite entering the break with an OPS+ of 161, which is a tick better than his career average. After making the switch from the Bronx to Queens, Soto remains one of the best and most entertaining hitters on the planet.
No. 3: Francisco Lindor, Mets
Lindor is known mostly for being a game-changing offensive player at one of the premium positions in the sport. But he's also a truly elite defender, a leader in the clubhouse, and perhaps the future captain of the Mets. A perennial MVP candidate who almost always posts up, Lindor continues to shine in what is already his fifth season in New York.
No. 2: Jalen Brunson, Knicks
What more is there to say about Brunson? Since signing in New York, Captain Clutch has delivered whenever the team has needed it. He put the Knicks on his back time and time again down the stretch this past season, leading them to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. He finished in the top-15 in MVP voting for the third consecutive season, and finally has the Knicks among the top contenders in the NBA.
No. 1: Aaron Judge, Yankees
The captain of the Yankees has overtaken Brunson for the top spot on this list, thanks in large part to his 2024 MVP season — while helping the Yanks make it back to their first World Series since 2009 — and his historic first half of the 2025 season. Judge remains the one constant in the Yankees' lineup and is not only threatening his AL home run record, but is the frontrunner for the MVP award. Judge also has a shot to win the Triple Crown this year, which would make him the first Yankee to do so since Mickey Mantle nearly 70 years ago.
Honorable Mention:
Igor Shesterkin, Rangers
Breanna Stewart, Liberty
Max Fried, Yankees
Edwin Diaz, Mets
Sauce Gardner, Jets
How did things shake out differently this year? Here's our list from 2024
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