Stephen Curry wins first award of the evening
While the reigning MVP Point Guard for the Golden State Warriors may have come up short when it came to winning an NBA Championship this year, as the first award of this year's annual ceremony, Stephen Curry took home the gold for Best Record-Breaking Performance. Along with breaking the record for most wins in a single season as a team, Stephen Curry also broke his own record of most 3-pointers made in a single season. This win certainly doesn't change the fact that the Warriors were unable to put the Cleveland Cavaliers away after being up 3 games to 1 in the series, however, even without winning it all in the end, Stephen Curry and Golden State managed to do some incredible things this season nonetheless.
Jake Arrieta brings it home
Beating out UFC sensation Connor McGregor, the Chicago Cubs' Jake Arrieta got the win for Best Breakthrough Athlete. Other contenders for the crown included three-time gold-medal-winning snowboarder Chloe Kim, and the top NBA Rookie of the 2016 NBA regular season, young Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns.
Cavaliers accept award on behalf of Cleveland and their fans
LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love were in attendance to accept the honor of Best Moment for what they were able to accomplish in this year's NBA Finals, overcoming the impossible odds of being down 3 games to 1 and still managing to come from behind and win it all -- a feat that was never before achieved in NBA Finals history.
The Cavaliers not only made history with their win, but they also ended Cleveland's infamous championship drought, and King James was finally able to make good on his promise to bring a championship home to the city of Cleveland.
Other winners
Courage Award -- Zaevion Dobson
Best Play -- Aaron Rodgers
Best Comeback Athlete -- Eric Berry
Pat Tillman Award For Service -- Elizabeth Marks
Award for Perseverance -- Craig Sager
Craig Sager has been recognized along many a sideline for his flashy suits and in-game commentary.
It is well known that the best dressed veteran sideline reporter has been battling leukemia. Even so, Sager continued to wear his signature attire and man the sidelines as recently as the 2016 NBA Finals. It's only fitting that Sager was awarded this year's Jimmy V. Perseverance Award.