Well-deserved! Brunson wins ESPY's Best NBA Player of the Year, defeating Wembanyama, SGA, and Jokic

On July 16, Beijing time, the ESPY awards ceremony has always been a spectacle, with surprises around every corner regarding who will win the trophy. Prior to the main ceremony, the committee hands out certain awards early, including the Best NBA Player award. The list of nominees for this edition consisted of Wembanyama, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, and Brunson.

Ultimately, Brunson defeated three tough competitors to secure the award. Renowned basketball analyst Kendrick Perkins later explained why the New York Knicks guard deserved this honor.

"Looking back at his journey, if you measure it by championship standards, his individual performance ranks among the greatest in NBA history," Perkins said. "Averaging 30 points in the Finals, pulling off an epic comeback in Game 4, and scoring 45 points on the road in Game 5 to seal the title. The last person to do something like that was Michael Jordan."

"A second-round pick who came to New York, made the Knicks competitive again, woke up a dormant franchise, and delivered a championship to the city after a 53-year wait."

Brunson certainly had ample reasons to win, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might have a case for disagreement. The Oklahoma City Thunder star won his second consecutive regular-season MVP award and led his team to the best record in the league.

Clearly, the award voters took playoff performance into account, but Gilgeous-Alexander could argue that his consistent excellence over the entire season lasted longer than Brunson's. Wembanyama and Jokic were also strong contenders, but unfortunately fell short. However, Gilgeous-Alexander has no reason to regret, as he already won the Best Male Athlete award at the previous ESPY ceremony.

During the 2025-26 season, Brunson played 74 regular-season games, averaging 26 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. In the playoffs, he appeared in 19 games, averaging 28.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 6.1 assists, ultimately leading his team to the championship and earning Finals MVP honors.