Jalen Brunson walked away from the 2026 ESPYs with three individual trophies - but before celebrating the hardware, the New York Knicks star made sure to give credit where he believes it was due.
Brunson swept Best Championship Performance, Best NBA Player, and Best Athlete (Men's Sports) at Wednesday night's ceremony, held at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. The wins capped a historic season in which Brunson led the Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973, closing out the Finals against the San Antonio Spurs with a 45-point performance in Game 5.
Accepting the Best Championship Performance award, Brunson opened his speech by naming the people who carried him there. "Winning a championship for this city is truly so special," he said. "I want to thank God, my teammates, the whole entire Knicks organization and to all those who supported me along the way."
It wasn't the only faith-forward moment of the night. Indiana quarterback and NFL No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza closed his own acceptance speech for Best College Athlete with "God bless," while Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's family reflected on prayer and gratitude in interviews tied to the broadcast.
For Brunson, the acknowledgment was brief but pointed - a moment of gratitude in the middle of the biggest night of his professional career, delivered before he even mentioned the trophy in his hands. The Knicks, who went 53-29 in the regular season before their five-game Finals win over the Spurs, also took home the night's Best Team award, with nine members of the championship roster in attendance.
Brunson's three wins mark his first ESPYs sweep, and come just weeks after the Knicks' championship parade through Manhattan.
Related Article: The Full 2026 ESPYS Winners List: From Brunson's Big Night to Curry's Humanitarian Honor
