Knicks dominate ESPYS 2026
The New York Knicks were prominent winners at the ESPYS 2026 ceremony, held on Wednesday at the David H. Koch Theater in New York. The event, which honours top athletes and moments from the past year, saw the recently crowned NBA champions secure multiple accolades, highlighting their successful season.
The team received the award for Best Team, with captain Jalen Brunson joined on stage by teammates OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Miles “Deuce” McBride, and Karl-Anthony Towns. This recognition came approximately one month after their NBA Finals triumph, marking their first championship in 53 years. Towns expressed gratitude to the fans and organization, emphasizing the role of team unity and fan support in their journey.
Jalen Brunson, a key figure in the Knicks’ championship run, was a significant individual award recipient. He earned honours for Best Male Athlete, Best Championship Performance, and Best NBA Player. Brunson’s performance included scoring 45 points in the Knicks’ 94-90 victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, where he was also named NBA Finals MVP. His teammate, OG Anunoby, also won Best Play for his game-winning tip-in against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
The ceremony, hosted by comedian and Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernández, featured a range of other notable awards. The Arthur Ashe Award for Courage was presented to former NBA centre Jason Collins. Former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott received the Jimmy V Award, while US Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan was honoured with the Pat Tillman Award for Service. The Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award went to Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, and the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award was shared by Kelis Armstrong, Julia Howe, and Samuel Phillips.
Other notable ESPYS winners
Beyond the Knicks’ success, several other athletes and teams were recognized for their achievements. In women’s sports, Las Vegas Aces centre A’ja Wilson was named Best Athlete, Women’s Sports, following a strong 2025 season where she led her team to another WNBA title. Wilson also secured the award for Best WNBA Player. Figure Skater Alysa Liu received the Best Breakthrough Athlete award after winning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics with a notable free skate performance.
The award for Best Record-Breaking Performance went to Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett for breaking the NFL‘s single-season sack record with 23 sacks. Other nominees in this category included UCLA softball star Megan Grant, Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, and Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe. Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers won Best Single-Game Performance for his outing in NLCS Game 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers, where he hit three home runs and pitched six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts.
In collegiate sports, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was named Best College Athlete, Men’s Sports, while UCLA centre Lauren Betts received the award for Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports. Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi was recognized as the Best Soccer Player. The ceremony also acknowledged Maddie DiMaria and Grady Emerson as Gatorade Players of the Year.
Moments of inspiration and global sports
The evening featured several poignant moments, including Jim Abbott‘s acceptance of the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Abbott, who played 10 seasons in MLB despite being born without a right hand, was a third-place finisher in the AL Cy Young race in 1991 and pitched a no-hitter in 1993. Scott Ruskan, the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service, received a standing ovation for his role in rescuing nearly 200 people during the Hill Country floods last July, with 165 lives credited to his efforts.
Jarron Collins accepted the Arthur Ashe Award on behalf of his late brother, Jason Collins, who was the first active player to publicly come out as gay in a major men’s professional sports league in the United States. The ESPYS ceremony traditionally takes place the day after the MLB All-Star Game, a period when the sports calendar is typically less active. However, this year coincided with the FIFA World Cup semifinal, where Argentina defeated England 2-1, with Lionel Messi contributing two assists.
The sports calendar is set to intensify following the awards, with the return of MLB games and the start of the Open Championship scheduled for Thursday.
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Source: bleacherreport.com
