2026 ESPYs Return to New York as Marcello Hernández Hosts and Stephen Curry Takes Humanitarian Honor

Q: Jalen Brunson and Shohei Ohtani won big, but who was ultimately crowned the year’s Best Male Athlete?

Jalen Brunson was ultimately crowned the 2026 ESPYs’ Best Male Athlete. While Shohei Ohtani had a strong night, winning Best MLB Player and Best Single-Game Performance, and Brunson also collected Best NBA Player and Best Championship Performance, the top men’s honor went to Brunson. He won the ESPY for Best Athlete, Men’s Sports. Brunson’s victory capped a standout year in which he led the New York Knicks to the NBA title and earned NBA Finals MVP honors. He beat a field that included Ohtani and other major stars to take the night’s marquee male athlete award.

Q: The Knicks won the NBA title, but did they beat the Texas Longhorns' dynasty for the Best Team award?

Yes. The New York Knicks beat the Texas Longhorns for the 2026 ESPY Award for Best Team. The Knicks, coming off their NBA championship, were nominees in the category alongside the Texas Longhorns softball team, which entered after winning back-to-back Women’s College World Series titles. According to the reported ESPY results, the Knicks won Best Team. The broader awards results also showed a strong night for New York. Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ NBA Finals MVP, won Best NBA Player and Best Championship Performance for his 45-point effort in the title-clinching Game 5. The team award capped that run. The Longhorns were a serious contender. Their softball program has become one of the most dominant in college sports, reaching the championship series four times in five seasons under coach Mike White and winning consecutive national titles. But at this year’s ESPYs, the Knicks took the top team honor.

3 articles · Updated · Good Morning America · Jul 15

The 2026 ESPY Awards air Wednesday night from Lincoln Center in New York, with comedian Marcello Hernández hosting the ceremony for the first time.
Stephen Curry was honored ahead of the show with the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, citing the seven-year impact of his family’s Eat Learn Play foundation in Oakland.
ABC will broadcast the ESPYs live at 8 p.m. ET, with streaming on ESPN+ and next-day availability on Hulu, Disney+ and ABC video on demand.
Jalen Brunson and Shohei Ohtani are among the top nominees with three nods each, while New York hosts the event for the first time since 2021 after recent years in Los Angeles.