Highlights from the 2026 ESPY Awards

The 2026 ESPY Awards took place at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York. Hosted by Marcello Hernandez of “Saturday Night Live” fame, the event celebrated outstanding achievements in sports. Jalen Brunson was a standout, receiving multiple accolades for leading the New York Knicks to an NBA championship, their first since 1973.

Jalen Brunson’s Achievements

Brunson won “Best Championship Performance” and “Best Athlete — Men’s Sports.” He averaged 32.6 points per game during the Finals, in addition to 4.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals. During the regular season, his stats were equally impressive with 26.0 points, 6.8 assists, and 0.8 steals, contributing to the Knicks’ 53-29 record.

“I am forever indebted to them, thank you,” Brunson expressed gratitude to his family, coaches, and teammates in his acceptance speech.

Awards Celebrating Perseverance and Courage

Jim Abbott, who pitched in Major League Baseball despite being born without a right hand, won the “Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.” Abbott shared his experience of overcoming challenges and the importance of belonging through sports.

“Being born this way, I knew what it was like to be different, and being on a team was the greatest blessing,” Abbott stated.

Alysa Liu received “Best Breakthrough Athlete” honor for her achievement in figure skating at the Winter Olympics. She spoke about overcoming difficulties within her sport.

“I had rough times and took two years off, so it truly feels like a breakthrough for me and my sport,” Liu shared.

Steph Curry was honored with the “Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian” award. His charity, “Eat, Learn, Play,” supports children by providing meals and playgrounds in Oakland.

“This award being connected to Ali’s legacy is incredibly humbling,” Curry said, encouraging athletes to make a positive impact in their communities.

College and Service Awards

“Best College Athletes” were awarded to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and UCLA basketball’s Lauren Betts. Betts highlighted mental health’s importance in her speech.

“Mental health is the foundation of everything you do, and having the courage to seek help is true strength,” Betts emphasized.

Scott Ruskan was presented with the “Pat Tillman Award for Service” for rescuing 165 Texas flood survivors with the Coast Guard.

“Many heroes contributed to that rescue, and it took an entire team to succeed,” Ruskan said.

Additional ESPY Awards

• Best Athlete — Women’s Sports: A’ja Wilson
• Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Jason Collins
• Best Single-Game Performance: Shohei Ohtani
• Best Play: OG Anunoby
• Best Record-Breaking Performance: Myles Garrett
• Best High School Athletes: Maddie DiMaria, Grady Emerson