There were plenty of nominees for ESPYS awards with Dallas-area and Texas ties.
Serena Williams hosted the event that honors the best athletes, teams, and moments of the year. Tyler, Texas native and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Masters champion Scottie Scheffler were both up for the “Best Athlete, Men’s Sports” award. Mahomes and Scheffler were also nominated for the award given to the best player in their respective sports.
Texas-made Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, who is back in the Olympics after withdrawing from the team final at the previous Tokyo Olympics, was nominated for “Best Comeback Athlete.”
The Colony’s Jayda Coleman’s walk-off home run that sent Oklahoma softball to the Women’s College World Series championship was nominated for “Best Play” in the ESPYS. Oklahoma Softball, which just won a fourth-straight national championship, was also nominated for “Best Team.” The 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers were also nominated for the award given to the best team.
Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, who won World Series MVP in 2023, was up for “Best MLB Player,” while Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic was up for “Best NBA Player.”
Among these nominees, who took home the hardware?
Luka Doncic: Best NBA Player
Doncic took home the award over Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Boston’s Jayson Tatum.
He both set a career high in and led the NBA in scoring in the 2023-24 season. Doncic was named first Team All-NBA, an All-Star starter and Western Conference finals MVP last season.
Patrick Mahomes: Best Athlete, Men’s Sports
Mahomes was named the best male athlete of the year at the ESPYS.
The former Texas Tech star led the Chiefs to yet another Super Bowl win last season in dramatic fashion as the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime. Mahomes threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman with just three seconds remaining in the extra period.
Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP for the third time to go along with his third Super Bowl ring.
Simone Biles: Best Comeback Performance
Biles won her 9th U.S. Championships gymnastics title after having to withdraw at the Tokyo Olympics due to injury. The Texas native will be heading to Paris to represent the U.S in what is likely her final Olympics.
Biles, 27, is the oldest woman to make an Olympic gymnastics team since the 1950s and has seven medals to her name (four of which are gold).
Scottie Scheffler: Best Golfer
Scheffler was named the best golfer for obvious reasons. The No. 1 player in the world has six tournament wins in 2024, including a Masters win, and has a lead the size of the Grand Canyon in the FedEx Cup standings. He also is headlining the U.S. men’s golf roster for the Paris Olympics.
The Highland Park grad made waves at the PGA Championship when he was arrested by Louisville Metro Police as he tried to drive to the course. The charges have since been dropped.
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