2016 ESPY Awards

Los Angeles: NBA champion Cleveland Caveliers kept their winning streak alive by picking up several awards at the 2016 Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (ESPY) Awards.

LeBron James was best male athlete, the best NBA player and also was awarded the ESPY for best championship performance for helping to navigate the Cavaliers to the franchise's first title.

One year after losing in six games to the Golden State Warriors in the 2014-15 Finals, James led the Cavaliers to an unprecedented comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against those same Warriors, as Cleveland ended the city's 52-year championship drought. In doing so, James became the first player to lead a full playoff series in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. His efforts won him a unanimous Finals MVP, too.

The Cavs were also named the best team and, after already making a few appearances front and center at Wednesday’s show, James ceded the floor to teammates JR Smith, Tristan Thompson, and Channing Frye who each made sure to thank the city for its support.

James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love also accepted the award for best moment after making Cleveland a championship city for the first time in over 50 years.

Warriors star Stephen Curry won the award for best record-breaking performance. Curry, the reigning two-time NBA MVP, broke his own record for most made 3-pointers in a season as the Warriors went on to win an NBA record of 73 regular-season games.

In an evening full of recognition for today's sports heroes, the ESPYS also honored three players that elected to call it a career this season. Recently retired Peyton Manning, Kobe Bryant and Abby Wambach were honored with the Icon Award, which was presented by Justin Timberlake. The trio were honored together on the Microsoft Theatre stage while receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.

While those three luminaries have put their playing days behind them, Kansas city Chiefs  defensive back Eric Berry was honored as the comeback player of the year for battling cancer and returning to the NFL.

Berry was diagnosed in November 2014 with Hodgkin's lymphoma and missed the rest of the season, but he was cleared to return to football by both personal physicians and team doctors shortly before the start of training camp last summer.

Former UConn star and current Seattle Storm center Brenna Stewart took home the ESPY for best female athlete against competition from fellow WNBA player Elena Delle Donne, swimmer Katie Ledecky and gymnast Simone Biles. Stewart led the Huskies to a record fourth straight NCAA title while claiming her fourth straight NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player award. The first pick in the 2016 WNBA draft was also the unanimous women's college player of the year, capturing the Wooden Award, Sullivan Award and AP Player of the Year.

Chicago Clubs right-hander Jake Arrieta home best breakthrough performance honors, edging MMA star Conor McGregor three-time gold-medal-winning snowboarder Chloe Kim and NBA Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns.

The best play of the year was given to the Greeen Bay duo of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and tight end Richard Rodgers for their game-winning, 61-yard Hail Mary touchdown that lifted the Packers over the Detroit Lions this past season.

US Army Sgt. Elizabeth Markswas the recipient of this year's Pat Tillman Award for Service.

Marks overcame a devastating injury in Iraq and lung disease to become a world-class paraswimmer.

The family of Zaevion Dobson accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in his honor.

The 15-year-old Tennessee native and high school football player was shot and killed while trying to protect girls from gunfire.

Full List of Winners:

Male Athlete: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

Female Athlete: Breanna Stewart, UConn

Record-Breaking Performance: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Breakthrough Athlete: Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs

Play: Aaron Rodgers' Hail Mary to Richard Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Moment: City of Cleveland wins first title in 52 years

Upset: Holly Holm over Ronda Rousey, UFC

Comeback Athlete: Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Championship Performance: LeBron James

Game: NBA Finals, Game 7

Coach: Tyronn Lue, Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA Player: LeBron James

MLB Player: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

NFL Player: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

NHL Player: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

Male College Athlete: Buddy Hield, Oklahoma

Female College Athlete: Breanna Stewart, UConn

Male Tennis Player: Novak Djokovic

Female Tennis Player: Serena Williams

Male Action Sports Athlete: Ryan Dungey

Female Action Sports Athlete: Jamie Anderson

Male Athlete with a Disability: Richard Browne

Female Athlete with a Disability: Tatyana McFadden

International Athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer

Best MLS player: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC

WNBA Player: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx

Driver: Kyle Busch

Male Golfer: Jordan Spieth

Female Golfer: Lydia Ko

Jockey: Mario Gutierrez

Bowler: Jason Belmonte

Fighter: Conor McGregor

SPECIAL AWARDS

Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Craig Sager

Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Zaevion Dobson

Pat Tillman Award for Service: Sgt. Elizabeth Marks

Icon Award: Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning and Abby Wambach

This was the 24^th edition of the Awards. Professional wrestler John Cena hosted the awards night.