Awards & Winners

Best Play ESPY Award

ESPY Award

The Best Play ESPY Award has been conferred annually since 2002 on the play in a single regular season or playoff game contested professionally under the auspices of one of the four major North American leagues or collegiately under the auspices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association adjudged to be the most outstanding or best. Between 2002 and 2004, the award voting panel comprised variously fans; sportswriters and broadcasters, sports executives, and retired sportspersons, termed collectively experts; and ESPN personalities, but balloting thereafter has been exclusively by fans over the Internet from amongst choices selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee. The ESPY Awards ceremony is conducted in June and awards conferred reflect performance and achievement over the twelve months previous to presentation.
Date Established : 2002

Check all the winners of Best Play ESPY Award presented under ESPY Award since 2002 .


Chris Davis

(Davis FG return vs. Alabama, Auburn)

Nominations 2014 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Chris Davis
Davis FG return vs. Alabama, Auburn
Giovani Bernard
Giovani Bernard TD run, Cincinnati
Tomáš Hertl
Tomas Hertl goal,San Jose
Xavier Henry
Xavier Henry dunk, LA Lakers
Josh Reddick
Josh Reddick catch, Oakland
Auburn Tigers football
Auburn Hail Mary vs. Georgia
Raúl Jiménez
Raul Jimenez bicycle kick, Mexico
Sacred Heart Academy Irish boy's basketball
Sacred Heart buzzer beater
Memphis Tigers men's basketball
Memphis fast break
Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel escape vs. Duke, Aggies
SMU Mustangs football
SMU two-point conversion
Paula Creamer
Paula Creamer 75-foot eagle putt
Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie goal, Netherlands
Henrik Lundqvist
Lundqvist save on Vanek, NY Rangers
Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard buzzer beater, Portland
Tyler Ennis
Tyler Ennis buzzer beater, Syracuse

Jadeveon Clowney

(Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina football - game-changing hit against Michigan in Outback Bowl)

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Ray Allen
Ray Allen, Miami Heat - game-tying three-pointer in Game 6 of NBA Finals
Jadeveon Clowney
Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina football - game-changing hit against Michigan in Outback Bowl
Khalil Edney
Khalil Edney, New Rochelle basketball - last-second game-winning shot New York Section 1 Class AA final
DeAndre Jordan
DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers - monster dunk over Brandon Knight

Christian Watford

(Christian Watford Buzzer Beater, Indiana)

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Joe Adams
Joe Adams's incredible touchdown return against Tennessee
Derrick Salberg
Derrick Salberg's insane game-winning catch against Everett Community College
Edson Barboza
Edson Barboza's spinning hook kick to knock out Terry Etim
Christian Watford
Christian Watford Buzzer Beater, Indiana

Abby Wambach

(Comeback goal in the World Cup)

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Abby Wambach
Comeback goal in the World Cup
Eric Hassli
Top shelf goal vs. Seattle
Marshawn Lynch
Run over the Saints
Wayne Rooney
Bicycle kick goal
DeSean Jackson
Game-winning punt return

Brett Favre, Greg Lewis

(Favre to Greg Lewis TD)

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Brett Favre
Favre to Greg Lewis TD
Greg Lewis
Favre to Greg Lewis TD
Brian Kownacki
Brian Kownacki's Fordham Dive at Home Plate
Mark Buehrle
Mark Buehrle flip on Opening Day
Rajon Rondo
Rajon Rondo hustle play

Santonio Holmes, Ben Roethlisberger

(Roethlisberger to Holmes Super Bowl Winning TD)

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alexander Ovechkin
Ovechkin's goal against the Rangers
Manny Pacquiáo
Pacquiao KO\u2019s Hatton
Santonio Holmes
Roethlisberger to Holmes Super Bowl Winning TD
Ben Roethlisberger
Roethlisberger to Holmes Super Bowl Winning TD
Michael Crabtree
Crabtree makes game-winning catch vs. Texas

Eli Manning, David Tyree

(Super Bowl: Eli Manning To David Tyree)

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Trinity Tigers football
Mississippi Miracle- Trinity College's 15 lateral play
Eli Manning
Super Bowl: Eli Manning To David Tyree
David Tyree
Super Bowl: Eli Manning To David Tyree
Blake Hoffarber
Big 10 Stunner Minnesota's Hoffarber scores on a length-of-the-court pass to upset Indiana
Rick Nash
Columbus Blue Jacket's Rick Nash Shoots And Scores Game Winning Goal Against Phoenix

Boise State Broncos football

(Boise State beats Oklahoma with a two-point conversion using the Statue of Liberty play)

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Boise State Broncos football
Boise State beats Oklahoma with a two-point conversion using the Statue of Liberty play
Travis Pastrana
Double Back Flip at the 2006 X Games
Darrelle Revis
Revis made a dynamic, 73-yard punt return, while breaking several tackles, and finally scoring a touchdown.
Endy Chávez
Endy Chavez, Mets, robs Scott Rolen of a home run.
Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade, Heat, hits wild shot vs. Pacers.

Tyrone Prothro

(Fourth-down reception by Crimson Tide wide receiver Tyrone Prothro of a forty-two-yard pass from quarterback Brodie Croyle over Golden Eagles cornerback Jasper Faulk)

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tyrone Prothro
Fourth-down reception by Crimson Tide wide receiver Tyrone Prothro of a forty-two-yard pass from quarterback Brodie Croyle over Golden Eagles cornerback Jasper Faulk
Aaron Rowand
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Aaron Rowand's catch while crashing into the fence and breaking his nose
David Wright
NY Mets third baseman David Wright's barehanded catch vs. San Diego
Nathan Vasher
Nathan Vasher's (Chicago Bears) record 108-yard return of a missed field goal
Reggie Bush
USC's Reggie Bush's punt return vs. Washington

Blake Hoffarber

(Eighteen-foot two-point field goal by Royals shooting guard Blake Hoffarber while sitting down upon the expiration of a first overtime to draw the Royals equal with the Lightning and to force a second overtime)

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Blake Hoffarber
Eighteen-foot two-point field goal by Royals shooting guard Blake Hoffarber while sitting down upon the expiration of a first overtime to draw the Royals equal with the Lightning and to force a second overtime
Chuck Carothers
In the X Games 10 Moto X Best Trick final, Carothers took off from the ramp and did a 360-degree body varial -- letting go of the bike and rolling his body over mid-air -- to win the gold
Tiger Woods
After sailing his tee shot long over the par-3 16th green, and clinging to a one-shot lead, he played his chip up the slope and watched it stop, then drop into the hole for a birdie
Matt Brown
With one out in the top of the second against Oklahoma, the freshman right fielder tracked a routine fly ball toward the fence in foul territory. Without taking his eye off the ball, he jumped up -- and over -- the shoulder-high barrier, made the catch and held on for the out

Aaron Brooks, Donté Stallworth, Michael Lewis, Deuce McAllister, Jerome Pathon

(Forty-two-yard forward pass from Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks to wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and laterals from Stallworth to wide receiver Michael Lewis to running back Deuce McAllister to wide receiver Jerome Pathon totaling thirty-three yards for a touchdown to draw the Saints within one point of the Jaguars upon the expiration of regulation time (known thereafter as the River City Relay))

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jerome Pathon
Forty-two-yard forward pass from Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks to wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and laterals from Stallworth to wide receiver Michael Lewis to running back Deuce McAllister to wide receiver Jerome Pathon totaling thirty-three yards for a touchdown to draw the Saints within one point of the Jaguars upon the expiration of regulation time (known thereafter as the River City Relay)
Aaron Brooks
Forty-two-yard forward pass from Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks to wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and laterals from Stallworth to wide receiver Michael Lewis to running back Deuce McAllister to wide receiver Jerome Pathon totaling thirty-three yards for a touchdown to draw the Saints within one point of the Jaguars upon the expiration of regulation time (known thereafter as the River City Relay)
Donté Stallworth
Forty-two-yard forward pass from Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks to wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and laterals from Stallworth to wide receiver Michael Lewis to running back Deuce McAllister to wide receiver Jerome Pathon totaling thirty-three yards for a touchdown to draw the Saints within one point of the Jaguars upon the expiration of regulation time (known thereafter as the River City Relay)
Michael Lewis
Forty-two-yard forward pass from Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks to wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and laterals from Stallworth to wide receiver Michael Lewis to running back Deuce McAllister to wide receiver Jerome Pathon totaling thirty-three yards for a touchdown to draw the Saints within one point of the Jaguars upon the expiration of regulation time (known thereafter as the River City Relay)
Deuce McAllister
Forty-two-yard forward pass from Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks to wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and laterals from Stallworth to wide receiver Michael Lewis to running back Deuce McAllister to wide receiver Jerome Pathon totaling thirty-three yards for a touchdown to draw the Saints within one point of the Jaguars upon the expiration of regulation time (known thereafter as the River City Relay)
Jim Edmonds
Against Cincinnati, Edmonds made a backhand leaping catch at the wall.
Derek Fisher
Fisher hit an 18-foot jumper off an inbounds pass with .04 seconds left to give Lakers a 74-73 win over San Antonio in pivotal Game 5 of Western Conference semifinals.
Dante Hall
Hall returned a punt 93 yards for the game-winning touchdown vs. Denver on Oct. 5.

Devery Henderson

(LSU's Devery Henderson's desperation Hail Mary touchdown reception against Kentucky)

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Devery Henderson
LSU's Devery Henderson's desperation Hail Mary touchdown reception against Kentucky
Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds' (Giants) near-500-foot home run in Game Two of the World Series against the Angels
Michael Vick
Michael Vick's (Falcons) 46-yard overtime touchdown scramble against the Vikings
LeBron James
LeBron James' (St. Mary-St. Vincent High School) between-the-legs dunk
Kobe Bryant
Laker Kobe Bryant's behind-the-back 360 dunk

Derek Jeter

(Shovel throw on errant relay in Game 3 of 2001 AL Divisional Series)

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Derek Jeter
Shovel throw on errant relay in Game 3 of 2001 AL Divisional Series
James Allen
The Bears running back catches a 34-yard Hail Mary from Shane Matthews on the last play of regulation vs. the Browns Nov. 4, 2001. The Bears rallied to win the game, 27-21
Brian Mariano
Mariano scores the game-winning goal in the Connecticut CIAC H.S. Boys Soccer Championship with a 45 yard, 360 degree flip throw-in
Chris Ross
Hits a half-court shot to beat Dallas Kimball H.S. 54-53 and nab the Texas State 5A Basketball Championship