<P> The magazine's cover is the basis of a sports myth known as the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx . </P> <P> Most covers by athlete, 1954--2016 </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Athlete </Th> <Th> Sport </Th> <Th> Number of covers </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Michael Jordan </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> <Td> 50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Muhammad Ali </Td> <Td> Boxing </Td> <Td> 40 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> LeBron James </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tiger Woods </Td> <Td> Golf </Td> <Td> 24 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Magic Johnson </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> <Td> 23 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kareem Abdul - Jabbar </Td> <Td> Basketball </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tom Brady </Td> <Td> Football </Td> <Td> 20 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Athlete </Th> <Th> Sport </Th> <Th> Number of covers </Th> </Tr>

Who as of 2016 has been on the cover of sports illustrated the most times