Highlights from the 2026 ESPY Awards
On July 16, Jalen Brunson took the spotlight at the 2026 ESPY Awards held at the David H. Koch Theater in New York. Hosted by Marcello Hernandez of ‘Saturday Night Live,’ the event celebrated a range of achievements in sports.
Brunson received three standing ovations as he collected two prestigious awards: ‘Best Championship Performance’ and ‘Best Athlete — Men’s Sports.’ These accolades were for leading the New York Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973. He averaged 32.6 points per game in the Finals, adding 4.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals. During the regular season, he posted an average of 26.0 points, 6.8 assists, and 0.8 steals.
In his acceptance speech, Brunson acknowledged his family, coaches, and teammates, saying, ‘I am forever indebted to them, thank you.’
Jim Abbott, a former Major League Baseball pitcher born without a right hand, received the ‘Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.’ Abbott noted his lifelong experience of feeling different but emphasized the sense of belonging that sports gave him.
Alyssa Liu won ‘Best Breakthrough Athlete’ after securing a gold medal in figure skating at the Winter Olympics. Reflecting on her journey, Liu shared, ‘I had some really rough times in the sport, and I took two years off, so it really feels like I did break through in my own way.’
Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors was honored with the ‘Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian’ award. Curry’s ‘Eat, Learn, Play’ charity has significant impact in Oakland, focusing on feeding children and providing safe play areas.
Curry expressed his gratitude, stating, ‘When you hear Ali’s name, you think about greatness. This award being connected to his legacy is incredibly humbling.’
The ‘Best College Athletes’ awards went to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and UCLA basketball player Lauren Betts. Betts addressed mental health in her speech, highlighting its foundational role in success.
She noted, ‘The strongest people aren’t the ones who never struggle; they’re the ones who have the courage to let someone walk through the struggle with them.’
Scott Ruskan received the ‘Pat Tillman Award for Service’ for his heroic efforts as a member of the Coast Guard, where he helped rescue 165 flood survivors in Texas.
Ruskan remarked, ‘There were a lot of heroes that day who aren’t getting an ESPY Award. It took a complete army of people to get the rescue done.’
The evening also honored other notable athletes and performances: ‘Best Athlete — Women’s Sports’ went to A’ja Wilson, Jason Collins received the ‘Arthur Ashe Award for Courage,’ and Shohei Ohtani was recognized for ‘Best Single-Game Performance.’ OG Anunoby won ‘Best Play,’ Myles Garrett took ‘Best Record-Breaking Performance,’ and the ‘Best High School Athletes’ were Maddie DiMaria and Grady Emerson.