| 100% | DRJ | 3 | Former basketball star Erving, familiarly: 2 wds. |
| 64% | MICHAELJORDAN | 13 | Former basketball star who has pitched Hanes underwear: 2 wds. |
| 61% | DRJ | 3 | Basketball star Julius Erving, to fans: 2 wds., abbr. |
| 59% | DRJ | 3 | Hall of Fame basketball star Julius Erving, to fans: 2 wds. |
| 59% | DRJ | 3 | Hall of Fame basketball star Julius Erving's nickname: 2 wds. |
| 50% | DRJ | 3 | Basketball Hall of Famer Erving, familiarly (2 wds.) |
| 49% | DRJ | 3 | Basketball player Erving's nickname: 2 wds. |
| 49% | DRJ | 3 | Basketball's Erving, to fans: 2 wds. |
| 49% | DWIGHTHOWARD | 12 | Basketball star who has pitched Adidas underwear: 2 wds. |
| 49% | LEBRONJAMES | 11 | Basketball star who played himself in "Trainwreck": 2 wds. |
| 46% | AARONWILLIAMS | 13 | Former basketball player who played with ten different teams between 1993 - 2008: 2 wds. |
| 45% | DAVIDBECKHAM | 12 | Former soccer star who has pitched H&M underwear: 2 wds. |
| 45% | JLO | 3 | "Second Act" star, familiarly: 2 wds. |
| 44% | OJSIMPSON | 9 | Former football star found guilty in 2008 of criminal conduct: 2 wds. |
| 44% | JLO | 3 | "Shades of Blue" star, familiarly: 2 wds. |
| 44% | SUEBIRD | 7 | Basketball star who forms half of a sports power couple with soccer player Megan Rapinoe: 2 wds. |
| 44% | YAO | 3 | Former basketball star ___ Ming |
| 42% | EARVINJOHNSON | 13 | Former Lakers star, nicknamed "Magic," awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025: 2 wds. |
| 42% | KIDD | 4 | Jason ___, former basketball star |
| 42% | JIMJACKSON | 10 | Former basketball player and current sports analyst for Fox, who played with twelve different teams between 1992 - 2006: 2 wds. |
| 42% | MIKETYSON | 9 | Former boxing star found guilty in 1992, 1998, 2004, and 2007 of criminal conduct: 2 wds. |
| 41% | ROBERTSON | 9 | Former Cincinnati Royals' basketball player who won the "All Star Game Most Valuable Player" 2 times, Oscar ___ |
| 41% | MANDYPATINKIN | 13 | Former star of 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 41% | MICHAELREDD | 11 | Former basketball player who is a partner at NCT Ventures and has invested in a food solutions startup called Azoti: 2 wds. |
| 41% | ARENAS | 6 | Former basketball star Gilbert ... or the places he played |
| 40% | LALAW | 5 | Former NBC drama starring Harry Hamlin: 2 wds., abbr. |
| 40% | ROSEANNEBARR | 12 | Former sitcom star who ran for president in 2012 on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket: 2 wds. |
| 40% | DRJ | 3 | Nickname of basketball player Julius Erving: 2 wds. |
| 40% | DRJ | 3 | Nickname for basketball player Julius Erving: 2 wds. |
| 40% | DRJ | 3 | Basketball star Julius Erving, to fans |