The NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers kept their winning streak alive by picking up several awards at the 2016 ESPYS.
LeBron James was named the best male athlete, the best NBA player and also was awarded the ESPY for best championship performance for helping to navigate the Cavaliers to the franchise’s first title.
One year after losing in six games to the Golden State Warriors in the 2014-15 Finals, James led the Cavaliers to an unprecedented comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against those same Warriors, as Cleveland ended the city’s 52-year championship drought. In doing so, James became the first player to lead a full playoff series in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
His efforts won him a unanimous Finals MVP, too.
The Cavs were also named the best team and, after already making a few appearances front and center at Wednesday’s show, James ceded the floor to teammates J.R. Smith, Tristan Thompson and Channing Frye, who each made sure to thank the city for its support.
James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love also accepted the award for best moment after making Cleveland a championship city for the first time in over 50 years.
Though the Cavs cleaned up at the ESPYS, the first award of the night went to a man who was on the other side of Cleveland’s NBA Finals victory.
Warriors star Stephen Curry won the award for best record-breaking performance.
Curry, the reigning two-time NBA MVP, broke his own record for most made 3-pointers in a season as the Warriors went on to win an NBA-record 73 regular-season games.
“We had a great year, we got beat by a great team,” Curry said in accepting the award and acknowledging Golden State’s loss.
Curry also took time out of his brief acceptance speech to thank fellow NBA stars James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade for their message of social change that began the award ceremony.
In an evening full of recognition for today’s sports heroes, the ESPYS also honored three players that elected to call it a career this season.
Recently retired Peyton Manning, Kobe Bryant and Abby Wambach were honored with the Icon Award, which was presented by Justin Timberlake.
The trio were honored together on the Microsoft Theatre stage while receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.
“Sports would be nothing without the fans,” Manning said. “Being a fan is how I first came to love the NFL, and now that my time is up as a player, I’m looking forward to being a fan again and watching all of you out here in this audience tonight.”
Wambach said she was most proud to be part of a legacy left by the U.S. women’s soccer team that fought for equality and left the game “better than I found it.”
Bryant was met by chants of “Kobe, Kobe, Kobe” from the crowd, then joked that unlike Manning and Wambach — who retired following championships — he felt the timing was right to exit after the Lakers’ “impressive 17-65 season.”
Bryant then turned serious.
“I believe there is time for resting at the end, but for me, that time is not now,” Bryant said. “Thank you for this tremendous honor and acknowledging my basketball career, but I’m far from done. My next dream is to be honored one day for inspiring the next generation of athletes to have a dream, sacrifice for it, and never, ever rest in the middle.”
Full List of Winners
Male Athlete: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Female Athlete: Breanna Stewart, UConn
Record-Breaking Performance: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Breakthrough Athlete: Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs
Play: Aaron Rodgers’ Hail Mary to Richard Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Moment: City of Cleveland wins first title in 52 years
Upset: Holly Holm over Ronda Rousey, UFC
Comeback Athlete: Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Championship Performance: LeBron James
Game: NBA Finals, Game 7
Coach: Tyronn Lue, Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA Player: LeBron James
MLB Player: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
NFL Player: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
NHL Player: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Male College Athlete: Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Female College Athlete: Breanna Stewart, UConn
Male Tennis Player: Novak Djokovic
Female Tennis Player: Serena Williams
Male Action Sports Athlete: Ryan Dungey
Female Action Sports Athlete: Jamie Anderson
Male Athlete with a Disability: Richard Browne
Female Athlete with a Disability: Tatyana McFadden
International Athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer
Best MLS player: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC
WNBA Player: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx
Driver: Kyle Busch
Male Golfer: Jordan Spieth
Female Golfer: Lydia Ko
Jockey: Mario Gutierrez
Bowler: Jason Belmonte
Fighter: Conor McGregor
SPECIAL AWARDS
Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Craig Sager
Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Zaevion Dobson
Pat Tillman Award for Service: Sgt. Elizabeth Marks
Icon Award: Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning and Abby Wambach
Source: ESPN