Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Brunson, Knicks, Curry, Wilson, Ohtani Dominate Awards Night

7/16/2026

42 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Brunson Sweeps Awards

Jalen Brunson earned Best Male Athlete, Best Championship Performance and Best NBA Player at the ceremony.
The New York Knicks were named Best Team at the ceremony.
Stephen Curry received the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award.
A'ja Wilson won Best Athlete – Women’s Sports and Best WNBA Player.
Shohei Ohtani earned Best Single-Game Performance for his three-home-run, six-scoreless-inning NLCS Game 4 outing.

Summary

Brunson Surgery

Jalen Brunson disclosed he played the Eastern Conference finals with a weakening left wrist and underwent surgery on July 7, per ESPN Radio.
OG Anunoby’s tip-in won the ESPY for Best Play, while the Knicks posted the top point differential in playoff history, surpassing the 1996 Bulls and 2017 Warriors.
Brunson is slated to appear at a WWE event on Saturday, linking his basketball fame to professional wrestling.

History

Historical Context

At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics the United States fielded an NBA-filled squad, the “Dream Team,” which won gold by an average 44-point margin and sparked a surge in global basketball interest, later earning induction into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009. That crossover model underpins Jalen Brunson’s 2024 ESPY honor and WWE cameo, echoing the team’s blend of sport, media and commerce.

1 of 3

Brunson Sweeps Awards

Jalen Brunson earned Best Male Athlete, Best Championship Performance and Best NBA Player at the ceremony.
The New York Knicks were named Best Team at the ceremony.
Stephen Curry received the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award.
A'ja Wilson won Best Athlete – Women’s Sports and Best WNBA Player.
Shohei Ohtani earned Best Single-Game Performance for his three-home-run, six-scoreless-inning NLCS Game 4 outing.

1 / 3