Hello everyone, first I want to introduce everyone to the athlete bracket and explain how it works. I have done some advanced research and have assigned 128 athlete’s worldwide in two brackets and we will end with one champion. I will have the voting go through polls on my facebook (sports stew with drew) and twitter (@stewdrew) pages and it’s very simple. Whoever you think is the better athlete you will vote to advance in every matchup. History matters a little bit but my data has gone into recent performance (last 3 years) and projected performance of 2021. It’s a science not exact so please feel free to give me a little bit of a poke if you disagree with the bracket. But still please vote, we want to see who becomes the champion and it’s in your hand. Today is the east Region Round 1. Voting will begin at 12 pm PST today and end at 12 PST on Wednesday February 10th, thanks for your support, to the list!!!!!!
1 Kevin Durant Vs 16 Francisco Lindor
Kevin Durant (Basketball Nets)- 2021 Season 29.5 ppg, 52.9 fg%, 44.9 3 pt%. Overview: Kevin Durant has always been regarded as arguably the best shooter for a big man in the history of the NBA. The story holds true this season so far with Durant shooting 45 percent from downtown. Durant is a two time NBA champion and won the MVP in 2014. There may be no player in recent memory you would rather have to get a big bucket than Kevin Durant.
Francisco Lindor (Baseball Mets)- 2020 Season .258 average 8 homeruns, 27 RBI, 2019 Season .284 average 32 homeruns, 74 RBI. Overview: The newest member of the New York Mets (formerly with the Cleveland baseball team) Francisco Lindor is widely regarded as one of the best all around players in all of baseball. Lindor is arguably the best defensive shortstop in all of baseball with two gold gloves to his name (2018-2019) thus far. 2020’s shortened season was a down year offensively but going into the 2021 season healthy and with a fresh start the sky is the limit for the Puerto Rico native.
8 Alexander Ovechkin Vs 9 Josh Allen
Alexander Ovechkin (Hockey Capitals)- 2021 Season 5 goals, 7 assist, 12 points. Overview: Widely regarded as the best goal scorer of this generation Alexander Ovechkin is still lighting up the net on a nightly basis. Ovechkin had won the Hart Memorial Trophy three times but had many playoff failures throughout his career. Ovechkin would finally get to the top in 2018 winning the Stanley Cup over the Golden Knights in five games.
Josh Allen (Bills Football)- 2020 Season 4,544 yards passing, 37 TD, 10 Int. Overview: The player who wins the up and coming award would certainly be Josh Allen. After a very promising but inconsistent start to his career Josh Allen would put it all together in 2020 with a monster season. Allen’s Bills would go 13-3 and lead the Bills to the AFC Championship game. Allen finished 2nd in the MVP race behind Aaron Rodgers. The Sky is the limit for the Wyoming product.
5 Lamar Jackson Vs 12 Russell Westbrook
Lamar Jackson (Ravens Football)- 2020 Season 2,757 yards passing, 26 TD, 9 Int, 1,005 yards rushing, 7 td. Overview: With the 2019 MVP Season and sustained success in 2020 the sky is the limit for the Louisville product. Lamar Jackson is maybe the toughest player to scheme in all of football with duel threat ability. The criticism of Jackson of not being able to win in the playoffs was put to rest in 2020 with the Ravens getting revenge with a wildcard win over the Titans.
Russell Westbrook (Wizards Basketball)- 2021 Season 19.4 ppg, 9.2 rebounds, 9 assists. Overview: Known as Mr. Triple double there is no guard in recent NBA history who is as versatile as Russell Westbrook. Maybe the most attacking guard in recent memory there still is no one in basketball who can stop Westbrook from getting to the basket one on one. Westbrook is showing in 2021 his ability to share as well with his scoring numbers down due to giving more of the ball to fellow guard Bradley Beal (an honorable mention to the bracket and current NBA leading scorer).
4 James Harder Vs 13 D.J LeMahieu
James Harden (Basketball Nets)- 2020 Season 23.6 ppg, 11.8 assists, 48.5 fg%. Overview: Arguably the best offensive guard in recent NBA history there is no one how can heat up in a hurry more than James Harder. Known for his step back three the under rated portion of James Harden’s game is his ability to get to the foul line. The 2018 MVP is also showing with his new team the Nets that he can also distribute leading the league is assists per game so far this season.
D.J LeMahieu (Yankees baseball)- 2020 Season .364 average, 10 HR, 27 RBI, 2019 Season .327 average, 26 HR, 102 RBI. Overview: Maybe the best overall hitter in baseball today the Yankees got themselves a steal in inquiring D.J LeMahieu off the scrapheap before the 2019 Season. LeMahieu has won two batting titles (2016, 2020) and has won three gold gloves all during his time with the Rockies.
6 Max Scherzer Vs 11 Joel Embiid
Max Scherzer (Baseball Nationals)- 2020 Season 5-4 3.74 ERA, 2019 Season 11-7 2.92 ERA. Overview: Max Scherzer is still one of the best power pitchers in all of baseball. His three pitch arsenal may be the best mix of speeds and movement of any pitcher in all of baseball. Scherzer has won three cy youngs (2013, 16, 17) and has a World Series championship to his belt as well. Winning the championship for the Nats in the 2019 Season
Joel Embiid (Basketball 76ers)- 2021 Season 29.3 ppg, 10.7 rebounds, 59.0 fg%. Overview: Joel Embiid is fast becoming one of the best big men in all of basketball. His ability to play the post and perimeter is making Embiid a force on all accounts. Embiid is in the running for MVP this early season with his stat line of 29 and 11 per game and the 76ers being the top team in the Eastern Conference. Health and durability is the only things keeping Embiid from being at the elite of the elite in the NBA.
3 Sidney Crosby Vs 14 T.J Watt
Sidney Crosby (Hockey Penguins)- 2021 Season 4 goals, 5 assists, 9 points. Overview: Sidney Crosby has been arguably the best all around player in all of hockey over the last decade. Crosby has won the hart trophy 2 times (2007, 2014) and has led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup title three times (2009, 2016, 2017). Even though Crosby is now in his age 33 Season he is still arguably the best all around player in all of hockey.
T.J Watt (Steelers football)- 2020 Season 15 sacks, 41 hits, 1 interception. Overview: T.J Watt led the NFL is sacks in 2020 with 15. T.J Watt has been terrorizing offensive lineman every since he came in the league in 2017 and is the leader of one of the best defensive units in all of football. Watt finished second in this season’s defensive player of the year, losing a tight vote to the Rams Aaron Donald.
7 Gerrit Cole Vs 10 Stefon Diggs
Gerrit Cole (Yankees Baseball)- 2020 Season 7-3 2.84 ERA, 2019 Season 20-5 2.50 ERA. Overview: One of the hardest throwers in all of baseball Gerrit Cole left off where he started in his first season in New York. Cole had the best season of his career in 2019 with 326 strikeouts in 212 innings yet still finished second in the Cy Young voting to his own teammate Justin Verlander. Cole is the ace of a Yankees team that appears to be back to being one of the top teams in the American League for years to come.
Stefon Diggs (Bills Football)- 2020 Season 127 receptions, 1,535 yards, 8 touchdowns. Overview: Stefon Diggs showed the Bills mafia why he was worth the kings ransom they gave the Vikings before the 2020 Season to acquire Diggs. Diggs led the NFL in receptions and yards in 2020 which was a big contributor to the breakout season for Bills Quarterback Josh Allen. With the nucleus coming back in 2021 watch out for Diggs and the Bills to build on this season’s success.
2 Jacob Degrom Vs 15 Jayson Tatum
Jacob DeGrom (Mets baseball)- 2020 Season 4-2 2.38 ERA, 2019 Season 11-8 2.43 ERA. Overview: Jacob DeGrom is the best pitcher in all of baseball currently and there isn’t much of a debate on this right now. Here is DeGrom’s stats the last three season. 2018 10-9 (10-9 only!!) 1.70 ERA, 269 strikeouts in 217 innings 1st in Cy Young. 2020 Season 11-8 2.45 ERA, 255 strikeouts in 204 innings 1st in Cy Young. 2020 Season (only 60 games) 4-2 2.38 ERA, 104 strikeouts in 68 innings 3rd in young (maybe wins a third in a row in a full season), yeah case closed.
Jayson Tatum (Celtics basketball)- 2020 Season 27 ppg, 7.1 rebounds, 41.9 3pt%. Overview: One of the rising stars of basketball and still haven’t even reached his 23rd birthday Jayson Tatum has been on an ascend every season of his career thus far. Tatum is a 6’8 forward that players like a guard with his athleticism and ability to shoot from long range. The sky is the limit for Tatum and the Celtics moving forward.