2017 ESPY Awards Predictions, Picks and Preview

This coming Wednesday, the best athletes from across almost every sport disciplines will be exchanging jerseys and team uniforms for suits and dresses as the 2017 edition of the ESPY Awards happens at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Get ready as the top performers of recent memory will be feted while memorable moments will be recognized in Tinseltown.

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2017 ESPY Awards Predictions, Picks and Preview

Best Male Athlete

We have a strong group here that includes some record-breakers. Kris Bryant didn’t set any significant milestones save for his new deal with the Chicago Cubs, but the reigning MLB National League MVP was a big reason why the Cubs broke the franchise’s 108-year World Series drought in 2016.

Sidney Crosby won his third and second-straight Stanley Cup this past June, while Russell Westbrook threatened to damage the fabric of the NBA universe on a nightly basis with a season-long statistical assault, concluding in him averaging a triple-double on the season and at the same time breaking Oscar Robertson’s record for most trip-dubs in a season.

Michael Phelps, meanwhile, had a bigger stage to showcase his dominance in his sport, as the American swimmer won five more Olympic gold medals in Rio to add to his collection. He ended his Olympic career with 23 gold medals overall, the most ever by an athlete in any sport.

Prediction: Russell Westbrook

Best Female Athlete

Olympians are well represented in this category with gymnast Simon Biles, swimmer Katie Ledecky, and tennis star Serena Williams all nominated along with Candace Parker of the WNBA. Williams has won the award twice before (2003, 2013) but Biles and Ledecky’s respective four-gold medal performances in Rio are going to be tough to ignore for voters. Parker earns a nod to be part of the nominees after leading the Los Angeles Sparks to a title.

Prediction: Serena Williams

Best Championship Performance

Tom Brady and Kevin Durant lend their star power to this category with both having preternatural performances in Super Bowl LI and in the 2016 NBA Finals respectively. Brady won his fifth Super Bowl ring last February after helping the New England Patriots overcome a massive 25-point deficit against the Atlanta Falcons.

Durant, who was signed by the Golden State Warriors last year, earned his first NBA title and did it in astounding fashion, putting up 35.2 points in five games versus LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Oklahoma Sooner Shay Knighten, meanwhile, is vying for the recognition on the strength of her amazing Women’s College World Series play, hitting .350 in the WCWS to lead his team to a finals win over the Florida Gators.

DeShaun Watson, now with the Houston Texans, gets nominated for his clutch play in the National College Football Championship that helped the Clemson Tigers upend the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Prediction: Tom Brady

The rest of award categories and nominees

Category | Nominees

Best Team

Chicago Cubs, MLB

Clemson Tigers, CFB

Golden State Warriors, NBA

Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL

New England Patriots, NFL

South Carolina Gamecocks, Women’s NCAA Basketball

US Women’s Gymnastics

Best Game

Cubs vs. Indians, World Series Game 7

Patriots vs. Falcons, Super Bowl

Federer vs. Nadal, Australian Open Final

Best NFL Player

Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Best MLB Player

Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox

Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

Mike Trout, LA Angels

Best NHL Player

Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

Best NBA Player

Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors

James Harden, Houston Rockets

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Best Play

Julian Edelman Super Bowl catch vs. 16. Noah Brown TD catch around defender

Morgan Williams buzzer beater vs. UConn vs.15. Larry Nance dunk

Aaron Rodgers to Jared Cook vs. 14. Lamar Jackson hurdles defender

Northwestern buzzer beater vs. 13. Edwin Encarnacion walk off HR

Russell Westbrook buzzer beater vs. 12. LeBron James dunk off the backboard

Chris Coghlan leaps over catcher vs. 11. Sidney Crosby one-handed goal

Olivier Giroud scorpion kick goal vs. 10. Warriors jump ball transition dunk

Mario Mandzukic goal in UEFA Final vs. 9. Jarrod Dyson catch

Best Breakthrough Athlete

Giannis Antetokounmpo, NBA

Laurie Hernandez, Gymnastics

Aaron Judge, MLB

Dak Prescott, NFL

Christian Pulisic, Soccer

Best Record-Breaking Performance

Bill Belichick most Super Bowl wins by a head coach

Michael Phelps extends his own record of most gold medals/most Olympic medals

Diana Taurasi breaks WNBA career scoring record

Russell Westbrook most triple doubles in a season

Best Upset

Clemson defeats Alabama, CFB National Championship

Denis Istomin over Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2nd Round

Mississippi State defeats Connecticut, Women’s NCAA Basketball Final

Best Comeback Athlete

Matt Bush, MLB

Roger Federer, Tennis

Jordy Nelson, NFL

Candace Parker, WNBA

Best International Athlete

Canelo Alvarez, Boxing

Usain Bolt, Track and Field

Katinka Hosszu, Swimming

Conor McGregor, MMA

Cristiano Ronaldo, Soccer

Best Driver

Ron Capps, NHRA

Lewis Hamilton, Formula One

Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR

Simon Pagenaud, IndyCar

Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR

Best WNBA Player

Tina Charles, New York Liberty

Elena Delle Donne, Washington Mystics

Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx

Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks

Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks

Best Fighter

Terence Crawford, Boxing

Gennady Golovkin, Boxing

Demetrious Johnson, MMA

Conor McGregor, MMA

Andre Ward, Boxing

Best Male Golfer

Brooks Koepka

Sergio Garcia

Dustin Johnson

Rory McIlroy

Henrik Stenson

Best Female Golfer

In Gee Chun

Ariya Jutanugarn

Lydia Ko

So Yeon Ryu

Lexi Thompson

Best Male Tennis Player

Roger Federer
Andy Murray
Rafael Nadal
Stan Wawrinka

Best Female Tennis Player

Angelique Kerber

Jelena Ostapenko

Monica Puig

Serena Williams

Best Male College Athlete

Ian Harkes, Wake Forest soccer

Frank Mason, Kansas basketball

Matt Rambo, Maryland lacrosse

Zain Retherford, Penn State wrestling

DeShaun Watson, Clemson football

Best Female College Athlete

Inky Ajanaku, Stanford volleyball

Kelly Barnhill, Florida softball

Kadeisha Buchanan, West Virginia soccer

Kelsey Plum, Washington basketball

Zoe Stukenberg, Maryland lacrosse

Best Male Action Sports Athlete

Oystein Braaten (NOR), Ski

John John Florence, Surf

Nyjah Huston, Skateboard

Mark McMorris, Snowboard

Best Female Action Sports Athlete

Lacey Baker, Skateboard

Anna Gasser, Snowboard

Kelly Sildaru, Ski

Tyler Wright, Surf

Best Jockey

Javier Castellano

Mike E. Smith

John Velasquez

Best Male Athlete With a Disability

Will Groulx, Cycling

Mike Minor, Snowboarding

Steve Serio, Wheelchair Basketball

Brad Snyder, Swimming

Roderick Townsend, Track and Field

Best Female Athlete With a Disability

Oksana Masters, Nordic Skiing

Tatyana McFadden, Track and Field

Becca Meyers, Swimming

Shawn Morelli, Cycling

Grace Norman, Triathlon

Best Bowler

Jason Belmonte

Francois Lavoie

EJ Tackett

Best MLS Player

Andre Blake, Philadelphia Union

Stefan Frei, Seattle Sounders FC

Matt Hedges, FC Dallas

David Villa, New York City FC

Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls

Best Male US Olympic Athlete

Ashton Eaton, Decathlon

Ryan Murphy, Swimming

Michael Phelps, Swimming

Kyle Snyder, Wrestling

Best Female US Olympic Athlete

Simone Biles, Gymnastics

Allyson Felix, Track & Field

Katie Ledecky, Swimming

Simone Manuel, Swimming

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