New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson is front and center in the 2026 ESPY Awards nominations, heading into a loaded field of global sports icons including Lionel Messi, Shohei Ohtani, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Victor Wembanyama.
The full list of nominees dropped Thursday, setting the stage for a blockbuster night when the ESPYs return to New York City for the first time in over 25 years. SNL breakout star Marcello Hernandez will host the show live from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, airing at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming on the ESPN app. Fan voting is open now and closes on show night.
Brunson earned multiple nods, including Best Athlete: Men’s Sports (alongside Messi, Ohtani, and Matthew Stafford) and Best Championship Performance. The Knicks themselves are up for Best Team, highlighting the franchise’s recent resurgence.
Ohtani stands out as one of the most nominated athletes, appearing in three categories including Best MLB Player and Best Single-Game Performance for his monster outing (six scoreless innings, 10 strikeouts, and three home runs).
Other Major Highlights:
Best Athlete: Women’s Sports: Hilary Knight, Nelly Korda, Mikaela Shiffrin, A’ja Wilson
Best Breakthrough Athlete: Macklin Celebrini, Alysa Liu, Drake Maye, Fernando Mendoza
Best Team: Includes the Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Knicks, Carolina Hurricanes, and both USA Hockey teams
Best Single-Game Performance: Features Bam Adebayo’s 83-point explosion and Hannah Hidalgo’s record 16 steals
The night will celebrate everything from record-breaking feats (Myles Garrett’s sack record, Megan Grant’s NCAA home run mark) to emotional comebacks and unforgettable playoff moments like OG Anunoby’s tip-in and UConn’s buzzer-beater.
This year’s ESPYs promise to be one of the most star-studded in recent memory, blending NBA dominance, soccer legends, Olympic heroes, and rising college talents under one roof in the heart of New York.
Voting is underway — who are you rooting for?
