Sports
LeBron James Dominates ESPY Awards While Kobe Earns Icon Honor
The sports legends of our time were honored in Los Angeles Wednesday.
Los Angeles, CA -- Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James dominated the ESPY Awards Wednesday while Laker great Kobe Bryant took home the Icon Award.
James received three individual awards, including best male athlete, and two team awards at tonight's 2016 ESPY Awards at the Microsoft Theater.
James also received his fifth best NBA player ESPY and third best championship performance award. The Cavaliers received the best team award and best moment award for Cleveland's first major sports championship since 1964.
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The best athlete ESPY was James' third and first since 2013.
Former Connecticut basketball standout Breanna Stewart received her best female athlete award. She had also been nominated each of the previous two years.
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Retired Los Angeles Laker guard Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning, who retired after quarterbacking the Denver Broncos to the victory in Super Bowl 50, and retired soccer star Abby Wambach received Icon Awards, which were presented by entertainer Justin Timberlake.
Vice President Joe Biden presented the Jimmy V Perseverance Award to Turner Sports broadcaster Craig Sager for continuing his work as an NBA sideline reporter while battling leukemia.
U.S. Army Sgt. Elizabeth Marks, who suffered a debilitating injury to both hips while serving in Iraq but is now a top-ranked paraswimmer -- winning four gold medals at this year's Invictus Games -- received the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
Zaevion Dobson, a high school football player from Knoxville, Tennessee, was honored posthumously with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for selflessly giving his life to shield two young women from gunfire.
The show hosted by professional wrestler John Cena also included a tribute to the late heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali.
Here is a complete list of winners:
- Best Record-Breaking Performance: Stephen Curry;
- Best Breakthrough Athlete: Jake Arrieta;
- Best Play: Aaron Rodgers to Richard Rodgers;
- Best Team: Cleveland Cavaliers;
- Best Female Athlete: Breanna Stewart;
- Best Male Athlete: LeBron James;
- Best Championship Performance: LeBron James;
- Best Game: NBA Finals Game 7;
- Best NBA Player: LeBron James;
- Best MLB Player: Bryce Harper;
- Best Female Action Sports Athlete: Jamie Anderson;
- Best Male Action Sports Athlete: Ryan Dungey;
- Best Jockey: Mario Gutierrez;
- Best Bowler: Jason Belmonte;
- Best Female College Athlete: Breanna Stewart;
- Best Female Athlete with a Disability: Tatyana McFadden;
- Best Male Athlete with a Disability: Richard Browne;
- Best Upset: Holly Holm over Ronda Rousey;
- Best Coach: Tyronn Lue;
- Best International Athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo;
- Best Fighter: Conor McGregor;
- Best NFL Player: Cam Newton;
- Best NHL Player: Sidney Crosby;
- Best WNBA Player: Maya Moore;
- Best Male College Athlete: Buddy Hield;
- Best Driver: Kyle Busch;
- Best Male Golfer: Jordan Spieth;
- Best Female Golfer: Lydia Ko;
- Best Male Tennis Player: Novak Djokovic;
- Best Female Tennis Player: Serena Williams; and
- Best MLS player: Sebastian Giovinco.
- Special Awards
- Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Craig Sager;
- Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Zaevion Dobson;
- Pat Tillman Award for Service: Sergeant Elizabeth Marks;
- Best Moment: Cleveland wins first title in 52 years;
- Best Comeback Athlete: Eric Berry;
- Icon Award: Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning and Abby Wambach.
— Photos courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA
