The 25 Most Dominant Five-Year Runs in Sports History

There was nobody better than these athletes during this stretch.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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No matter the professional sport, there are always players who go through streaks where they simply own the league. It has happened across all eras—whether it was the NBA’s golden years or MLB’s steroid years—and the accomplishments of these players have forever associated their names with success in their sport.

While many have pulled off great streaks for a couple seasons, those who were able to sustain their success for many years are the ones we’ll always remember. Whether it’s Babe Ruth in baseball, Tiger Woods in golf, or Roger Federer in tennis, a multi-year run where they are clearly the best in the world forever cements an athlete’s legacy as an all-time great. While there have certainly been many other worthy candidates, these are the 25 Most Dominant Five-Year Runs in Sports History.

25. LeBron James

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24. Kobe Bryant

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23. Oscar Robertson

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22. Richard Petty

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21. Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

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20. Barry Sanders

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19. Jerry Rice

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18. Mike Tyson

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17. Emmitt Smith

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16. Magic Johnson

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15. Mariano Rivera

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14. Walter Payton

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13. Muhammad Ali

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12. Lawrence Taylor

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11. Margaret Court

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10. Roger Federer

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9. Shaquille O'Neal

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8. Lionel Messi

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7. Barry Bonds

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6. Babe Ruth

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5. Tiger Woods

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4. Wilt Chamberlain

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3. Bill Russell

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2. Michael Jordan

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1. Wayne Gretzky

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