Why Stephen Curry will host ESPN’s ESPYS Awards
NBA Finals MVP Stephen Curry is hosting the ESPN ESPYS Awards next month, and “never imagined he would “have the privilege of hosting this special event.”
Warriors star Stephen Curry will continue to be in the spotlight as he hosts ESPN’s annual ESPYS awards on July 20 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
The 34-year-old is not only a contender for Best NBA Player, but he’s also a finalist for Best Male Athlete alongside Aaron Rodgers, Shohei Ohtani and Connor McDavid. Curry was also nominated for Best Record-Breaking Performance for overcoming Ray Allen for the most made three-pointers in the history of the NBA.
The ceremony comes a month after Golden State’s seventh NBA championship title, which is also their fourth in eight years.
What are the ESPYS Awards?
The ESPYS Awards, which stand for ‘Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly’, is an accolade to recognize individual and team athletic achievement and sports-related performance during the calendar year before a given annual ceremony.
The awards help raise awareness and funds for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, the charity founded by basketball coach Jim Valvano and ESPN back in 1993. Over the past 29 years, ESPN has helped raise more than $165 million for the foundation.
Whi will be honored at the ESPYS Awards 2022?
The nominees for the event have already been announced with the best NBA player including Curry, Nikola Jokić, the Denver Nuggets center, Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers center and the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Dončić.
ESPN Executive Editor-At-Large Rob King explained in a statement why Curry is the chosen presenter this year. “Steph has long been one of the brightest stars in the sports constellation, and we’re thrilled to have him share his passion for sports, his wit and his boundless talent with The ESPYS. Whether shining on the court, engaging with fans on social platforms or demonstrating a commitment to communities through varied philanthropic acts, he’s a singular performer who’ll undoubtedly add luster to our celebration of some of this year’s most compelling moments.”
In addition to the NBA awards, former heavyweight boxing champion and mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko will also be honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Retired Army Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans, who is also an author and athlete, will be honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service presented by MassMutual. And last but not least, the college basketball legend, broadcaster and hall-of-famer Dick Vitale will be honored with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.