class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Winners and nominees of the Best Male Athlete ESPY Award |
scope="col"| Year
!scope="col" class="unsortable"| Image
!scope="col"| Athlete
!scope="col"| Nation
!scope="col"| Sport
!scope="col" class="unsortable"| Nominees
!scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref(s)|References}} |
---|
1993
|
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Michael|Jordan}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|Basketball
| align=left | Dennis Eckersley ({{flag|USA}}) – Baseball Mario Lemieux ({{flag|CAN}}) – Ice hockey Emmitt Smith ({{flag|USA}}) – American football Steve Young ({{flag|USA}}) – American football
|[{{Cite book| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=xxU9VOuPTdYC&pg=PA190| title = The Sport Star: Modern Sport and the Cultural Economy of Sporting Celebrity| first = Barry| last = Smart| page = 190| access-date = 31 October 2017| isbn = 0-7619-4351-X| publisher = SAGE Publications Ltd| date = 24 August 2005| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171031121012/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xxU9VOuPTdYC&pg=PA190&lpg=PA190| archive-date = 31 October 2017}}][{{cite news|last=Sandmoir|first=Richard|title=Stars prove to be good sports for ESPYs|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/262943111|work=St. Petersburg Times|date=March 4, 1993|access-date=August 23, 2020|page=7B|id={{ProQuest|262943111}}|url-access=subscription}}] |
1994
|File:BarryBonds1993.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Barry|Bonds}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|Baseball
| align=left |Charles Barkley ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Mario Lemieux ({{flag|CAN}}) – Ice hockey Nigel Mansell ({{flag|GBR}}) – Motorsport Charlie Ward ({{flag|USA}}) – College football
|[{{Cite book| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Q1eXAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA52| page = 52| title = Barry Bonds| isbn = 978-1-4677-0387-1| publisher = Lerner Publishing Group| date = 1 August 2012| access-date = 31 October 2017| first = Ross| last = Bernstein| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171031121012/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Q1eXAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA52&lpg=PA52| archive-date = 31 October 2017}}][{{cite news|title=Bonds top male athlete|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/254063513|work=Windsor Star|date=March 1, 1994|access-date=August 23, 2020|page=B4|id={{ProQuest|254063513}}|url-access=subscription}}][{{cite news|title=Bonds among ESPY nominees|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-09-1994-1927427/|work=Altoona Mirror|date=February 9, 1994|page=D2|via=NewspaperArchive.com}}] |
1995
|File:SteveYoungRepublicanConvention1990.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Steve|Young}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|American football
| align=left | George Foreman ({{flag|USA}}) – Boxing Hakeem Olajuwon ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Barry Sanders ({{flag|USA}}) – American football
|[{{Cite web| url = https://www.deseretnews.com/article/404319/YOUNG-BLAIR-EARN-TOP-ESPY-AWARDS.html| title = Young, Blair earn top ESPY awards| access-date = 31 October 2017| work = Deseret News| date = 14 February 1995| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171031121013/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/404319/YOUNG-BLAIR-EARN-TOP-ESPY-AWARDS.html| archive-date = 31 October 2017}}][{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-21-1995-1927440/|title=ESPY nominees|date=January 21, 1995|work=Bluefield Daily Telegraph|access-date=April 12, 2018|agency=Associated Press|page=7|volume=101|issue=21|url-access=subscription |via=NewspaperArchive.com}}] |
1996
|File:Cal Ripken, Jr in 1996 (cropped).jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Cal|Ripken Jr.}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|Baseball
| align=left |Greg Maddux ({{flag|USA}}) – Baseball Hakeem Olajuwon ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball
|[{{cite news|last=Kent|first=Milton|title=A 'flattered' Cal Ripken adds to his treasure chest of awards|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/406915854|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=February 13, 1996|access-date=August 23, 2020|page=2D|id={{ProQuest|406915854}}|url-access=subscription}}][{{cite news|title=ESPY finalists announced|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/113492637/|work=The Tennessean|date=January 24, 1996|access-date=August 23, 2020|page=2C|via=Newspapers.com}}] |
1997
|File:Michael Johnson 1995.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Michael|Johnson|Michael Johnson (sprinter)}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|Track and field
| align=left | Michael Jordan ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Tiger Woods ({{flag|USA}}) – Golf
|[{{cite news|title=ESPYs honor athletes of year|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/306868170|work=USA Today|date=February 11, 1997|access-date=August 23, 2020|page=03C|id={{ProQuest|306868170}}|url-access=subscription}}][{{cite news|title=General: ESPY Awards|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/97/02/04/sports/scoreboard.html|newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|date=February 4, 1997|access-date=June 15, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229083309/http://archives.starbulletin.com/97/02/04/sports/scoreboard.html|archive-date=December 29, 2015|df=mdy-all}}] |
rowspan=2 | 1998
|File:TigerWoods1997.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Tiger|Woods}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|Golf
| rowspan=2 align=left |Michael Jordan ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Barry Sanders ({{flag|USA}}) – American football
| rowspan=2 |[{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=81mybCXNstAC&pg=PA217 | title = Greatest Sports Heroes of All Times: North American Edition | page = 217 | publisher = Encouragement Press | first1 = Paul J. | last1 = Christopher | first2 = Alicia Marie | last2 = Smith | access-date = 31 October 2017 | date = 1 September 2006 | isbn = 1-933766-09-3 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171031121012/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=81mybCXNstAC&pg=PA217&lpg=PA217 | archive-date = 31 October 2017 }}][{{Cite web | url = http://bleacherreport.com/articles/123384-ken-griffey-jr-and-then-there-was-one | first = Shashwat | last = Baxi | access-date = 31 October 2017 | publisher = Bleacher Report | title = And Then There Was One: Only Griffey Jr. Remains from Pre-Steroid Era! | date = 12 February 2009 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090215031942/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/123384-ken-griffey-jr-and-then-there-was-one | archive-date = 15 February 2009 }}][{{cite news|last=Greene|first=Jerry|title=Hey, I'm Ready to Share a Moment With The World|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/279082310|work=Orlando Sentinel|date=February 6, 1998|access-date=August 23, 2020|page=D11|id={{ProQuest|279082310}}|url-access=subscription}}] |
File:Ken Griffey Jr. 1997 (cropped).jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Ken|Griffey Jr.}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|Baseball |
1999
|File:Mark McGwire 1989 (cropped).jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Mark|McGwire}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|Baseball
| align=left |Terrell Davis ({{flag|USA}}) – American football Jeff Gordon ({{flag|USA}}) – NASCAR Michael Jordan ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Sammy Sosa ({{flag|DOM}}) – Baseball
|[{{Cite web|date=16 February 1999|title=Awards: McGwire top ESPY winner|url=http://web.kitsapsun.com/archive/1999/02-16/0035_awards__mcgwire_top_espy_winner.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031121013/http://web.kitsapsun.com/archive/1999/02-16/0035_awards__mcgwire_top_espy_winner.html|archive-date=31 October 2017|access-date=31 October 2017|work=Kitsap Sun}}][{{cite news|last=Heuschkel|first=David|date=February 17, 1999|title=Rat Race to Joy Ride|page=C1|work=Hartford Courant|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/177625184/|access-date=August 23, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}}] |
2000
|File:Tiger-1.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Tiger|Woods}} (2)
|{{flag|USA}}
|Golf
| align=left |Tim Duncan ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Pedro Martínez ({{flag|DOM}}) – Baseball
|[{{cite web|title=Year nominees (1999)|url=https://www.espn.com/espy2000/s/1999nominees.html|publisher=ESPN|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2001
|File:TigerWoods2004RyderCup1.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Tiger|Woods}} (3)
|{{flag|USA}}
|Golf
| align=left |Lance Armstrong {{flag|USA}}) – Road cycling Shaquille O'Neal ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball
|[{{cite news|last=Dorman|first=Tammy|title=Tiger Woods rising to thee top of ESPY all-time winning list|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/219680566/|work=The News-Press|page=43|date=February 11, 2001|access-date=August 23, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}}] |
2002
|File:Tiger Woods drives by Allison.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Tiger|Woods}} (4)
|{{flag|USA}}
|Golf
| align=left |Lance Armstrong ({{flag|USA}}) – Road cycling Barry Bonds ({{flag|USA}}) – Baseball Shaquille O'Neal ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Cael Sanderson ({{flag|USA}}) – Collegiate wrestling
|[{{cite news|last=Norwood|first=Robyn|date=July 9, 2002|title=No ID Required|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jul-09-sp-espy09-story.html|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2003
|File:Lance Armstrong - Tour de France 2003 - Alpe d'Huez (cropped).jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Lance|Armstrong}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|Road cycling
| align=left |Barry Bonds ({{flag|USA}}) – Baseball Tim Duncan ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Tiger Woods ({{flag|USA}}) – Golf
|[{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=NIsa7OuW1V4C&pg=PA76 | title = Lance Armstrong: A Biography | first = Paula | last = Johanson | page = 76 | isbn = 978-0-313-38690-9 | publisher = Greenwood | date = 7 April 2011 | access-date = 31 October 2017 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171031121012/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NIsa7OuW1V4C&pg=PA76&lpg=PA76 | archive-date = 31 October 2017 }}][{{cite web|title=Best Male Athlete nominees|url=https://www.espn.com/espy2003/s/03bestmalenominees.html|publisher=ESPN|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2004
|File:Armstrong-nih.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Lance|Armstrong}} (2)
|{{flag|USA}}
|Road cycling
| align=left |Barry Bonds ({{flag|USA}}) – Baseball Tom Brady ({{flag|USA}}) – American football Kevin Garnett ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Peyton Manning ({{flag|USA}}) – American football
|[{{cite news|title=Fans speak: Lance is No. 1|url=https://www.deseret.com/2004/7/15/19840197/fans-speak-lance-is-no-1.|work=Deseret News|agency=Associated Press|date=July 15, 2004|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2005
|File:LanceTimeTrial2005StEtienne (cropped).jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Lance|Armstrong}} (3)
|{{flag|USA}}
|Road cycling
| align=left |Peyton Manning ({{flag|USA}}) – American football Bode Miller ({{flag|USA}}) – Skiing Michael Phelps ({{flag|USA}}) – Swimming Vijay Singh ({{flag|FIJ}}) – Golf
|[{{cite web|last=Whitten|first=Phillip|title=Four Swimmers in Hunt for 2005 ESPY Awards: Vote for Michael, Natalie, Rudy and Erin|url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/four-swimmers-in-hunt-for-2005-espy-awards-vote-for-michael-natalie-rudy-and-erin/|work=Swimming World Magazine|date=July 6, 2005|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2006
|File:Lance Armstrong Tour de Gruene 2008-11-01.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Lance|Armstrong}} (4)
|{{flag|USA}}
|Road cycling
| align=left |Shaun Alexander ({{flag|USA}}) – American football LeBron James ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Albert Pujols ({{flag|DOM}}) – Baseball Vince Young ({{flag|USA}}) – College football
|[{{cite web|date=June 27, 2006|title=Osterman and Football team headline 2006 ESPY Award nominations|url=https://texassports.com/news/2006/6/27/062706aaa_403.aspx|access-date=August 23, 2020|publisher=University of Texas Athletics}}] |
2007
|File:LaDainian Tomlinson-Aug-2-08-Practice.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|LaDainian|Tomlinson}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|American football
| align=left |Roger Federer ({{flag|SUI}}) – Tennis LeBron James ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Peyton Manning ({{flag|USA}}) – American football Tiger Woods ({{flag|USA}}) – Golf
|[{{Cite news|last=Harris|first=Beth|date=12 July 2007|title=Chargers' Tomlinson Wins 4 ESPY Awards|newspaper=The Washington Post|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/11/AR2007071102511_pf.html|url-status=live|access-date=31 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031121012/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/11/AR2007071102511_pf.html|archive-date=31 October 2017}}] |
2008
|File:20080609 Tiger Woods (cropped).jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Tiger|Woods}} (5)
|{{flag|USA}}
|Golf
| align=left |Tom Brady ({{flag|USA}}) – American football Kobe Bryant ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Alex Rodriguez ({{flag|USA}}) – Baseball
|[{{Cite web|last=Myers|first=Alex|date=5 December 2013|title=Throwback Thursday: That time Will Ferrell accepted an award... as Tiger Woods|url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/will-ferrell-tiger-woods-espn-award-video|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218161451/http://www.golfdigest.com/story/will-ferrell-tiger-woods-espn-award-video|archive-date=18 February 2017|access-date=31 October 2017|work=Golf Digest}}][{{cite news|date=July 1, 2008|title=ESPY Best Male and Female Athlete Nominees|work=Houston Chronicle|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/slideshow/ESPY-Best-Male-and-Female-Athlete-Nominees-25269.php|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2009
|File:Michael Phelps in action (3628423222).jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Michael|Phelps}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|Swimming
| align=left |Kobe Bryant ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball LeBron James ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Jimmie Johnson ({{flag|USA}}) – NASCAR
|[{{cite news|date=July 15, 2009|title=Phelps chosen male athlete of the year|work=Denver Post|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2009/07/15/phelps-chosen-male-athlete-of-the-year/|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2010
|File:Drew Brees at Saints Super Bowl parade 2010-02-09.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Drew|Brees}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|American football
| align=left |Kobe Bryant ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball LeBron James ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Jimmie Johnson ({{flag|USA}}) – NASCAR Albert Pujols ({{flag|DOM}}) – Baseball
|[{{Cite web | url = https://www.deseretnews.com/article/700048302/Brees-Vonn-take-home-top-ESPYs.html | work = Deseret News | title = Brees, Vonn take home top ESPYs | first = Beth | last = Harris | access-date = 31 October 2017 | date = 14 July 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100723071120/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700048302/Brees-Vonn-take-home-top-ESPYs.html | archive-date = 23 July 2010 }}][{{cite news|date=July 14, 2010|title=Champion Lakers compete for ESPY Award tonight|work=Los Angeles Daily News|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2010/07/14/champion-lakers-compete-for-espy-award-tonight/|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2011
|File:Dirk Nowitzki Mavs 2009.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Dirk|Nowitzki}}
|{{flag|DEU}}
|Basketball
| align=left |Jimmie Johnson ({{flag|USA}}) – NASCAR Rafael Nadal ({{flag|ESP}}) – Tennis Aaron Rodgers ({{flag|USA}}) – American football
|[{{Cite web|last=Tourtellotte|first=Bob|date=14 July 2011|title=Mavericks, Nowitzki shine at Espy Awards|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-espys/mavericks-nowitzki-shine-at-espy-awards-idUSTRE76D0ES20110714|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031121012/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-espys/mavericks-nowitzki-shine-at-espy-awards-idUSTRE76D0ES20110714|archive-date=31 October 2017|access-date=31 October 2017|publisher=Reuters}}][{{cite web|date=July 14, 2011|title=Nowitzki wins a pair, Wilson stylish at ESPYS|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/wilson-espys/|access-date=August 23, 2020|publisher=Sportsnet}}] |
2012
|File:LeBron James Dec 2012 3.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|LeBron|James}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|Basketball
| align=left |Novak Djokovic ({{flag|SER}}) – Tennis Aaron Rodgers ({{flag|USA}}) – American football Justin Verlander ({{flag|USA}}) – Baseball
|[{{Cite web | url = http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1256390-espy-awards-2012-winners-lebron-james-deserving-of-his-multiple-awards | title = ESPY Awards 2012 Winners: Why LeBron James Deserves His Multiple Awards | first = Nicholas | last = Goss | date = 12 July 2012 | publisher = Bleacher Report | access-date = 31 October 2017 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120820103334/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1256390-espy-awards-2012-winners-lebron-james-deserving-of-his-multiple-awards | archive-date = 20 August 2012 }}][{{Cite news|last=Harris|first=Beth|date=July 12, 2012|title=LeBron is king of the 2012 ESPY Awards|work=The Durango Herald|agency=Associated Press|url=https://durangoherald.com/articles/41292|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2013
|File:LeBron James at GSW.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|LeBron|James}} (2)
|{{flag|USA}}
|Basketball
| align=left |Miguel Cabrera ({{flag|VEN}}) – Baseball Adrian Peterson ({{flag|USA}}) – American football Michael Phelps ({{flag|USA}}) – Swimming
|[{{cite web|title=LeBron James, Heat repeat at ESPYS|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/espys/2014/story/_/id/9486918/2013-espys-lebron-james-voted-top-male-athlete|publisher=ESPN|date=July 18, 2013|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2014
|File:Kevin Durant Feb 2014.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Kevin|Durant}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|Basketball
| align=left |Miguel Cabrera ({{flag|VEN}}) – Baseball Peyton Manning ({{flag|USA}}) – American football Floyd Mayweather Jr. ({{flag|USA}}) – Boxing
|[{{cite news|last=Harris|first=Beth|date=July 17, 2014|title=Durant, Rousey Win Top Athlete Honors At ESPYs|publisher=WWJ-TV|agency=Associated Press|url=https://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/07/17/durant-rousey-win-top-athlete-honors-at-espys/|access-date=August 23, 2020}}][{{cite news|last=Bracht|first=Mel|date=June 24, 2014|title=Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook nominated for 2014 ESPY Awards|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/4952723/kevin-durant-russell-westbrook-nominated-for-2014-espy-awards|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2015
|File:Stephen Curry dribbling 2016 (cropped).jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Stephen|Curry}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|Basketball
| align=left |LeBron James ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Aaron Rodgers ({{flag|USA}}) – American football J. J. Watt ({{flag|USA}}) – American football
|[{{Cite web|last=Devine|first=Dan|title=Stephen Curry wins Best NBA Player, Best Male Athlete at 2015 ESPYs|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/stephen-curry-wins-best-nba-player--best-male-athlete-at-2015-espy-awards-141417048.html?y20=1|publisher=Yahoo! Sports|date=July 16, 2015|access-date=August 23, 2016}}] |
2016
|File:LeBron James (15662939969).jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|LeBron|James}} (3)
|{{flag|USA}}
|Basketball
| align=left |Stephen Curry ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Bryce Harper ({{flag|USA}}) – Baseball Cam Newton ({{flag|USA}}) – American football
|[{{cite news|last=Florjancic|first=Matthew|title=Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James wins Best Male Athlete ESPY|url=https://www.wkyc.com/mobile/article/sports/nba/cavaliers/cleveland-cavaliers-lebron-james-wins-best-male-athlete-espy/272381741|publisher=WKYC|date=July 13, 2016|access-date=August 23, 2020}}][{{cite news|last=Crawford|first=Liz|title=Cam Newton Nominated For Two ESPY Awards|url=https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/sports/cam-newton-nominated-for-two-espy-awards/83-264981433|publisher=WFMY-TV|date=July 6, 2016|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2017
|File:Westbrook 20150125.jpg
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Russell|Westbrook}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|Basketball
| align=left |Kris Bryant ({{flag|USA}}) – Baseball Sidney Crosby ({{flag|CAN}}) – Ice hockey Michael Phelps ({{flag|USA}}) – Swimming
|[{{cite web|last=Kimble|first=Lindsay|title=Russell Westbrook Wins Best Male Athlete at 2017 ESPY Awards|url=https://people.com/sports/espy-awards-2017-russell-westbrook-best-male-athlete/#:~:text=Russell%20Westbrook%20has%20won%20best,and%20Olympic%20swimmer%20Michael%20Phelps|work=People|date=July 12, 2017|access-date=August 23, 2020}}][{{cite magazine|title=Olympic stars Phelps, Biles among finalists for ESPY Awards|url=https://www.si.com/olympics/2017/06/21/ap-us-espy-awards-nominees|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=June 21, 2017|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2018
|144x144px
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Alexander|Ovechkin}}
|{{flag|RUS}}
|Ice hockey
| align=left |Jose Altuve ({{flag|VEN}}) – Baseball Tom Brady ({{flag|USA}}) – American football James Harden ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball
|[{{cite web|last=Trosset|first=Bob|title=Alex Ovechkin takes home ESPY for Best Male Athlete|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/capitals/alex-ovechkin-takes-home-espy-best-male-athlete|publisher=NBC Sports Washington|date=July 18, 2018|access-date=August 23, 2020}}][{{cite news|title=James Harden, Jose Altuve named finalists for ESPYs Best Male Athlete Award|url=https://abc13.com/james-harden-jose-altuve-houston-rockets-astros-espy-awards-best-male-athlete/3627257/|publisher=KTRK-TV|date=June 20, 2018|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2019
|100px
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Giannis|Antetokounmpo}}
|{{flag|GRE}}
|Basketball
| align=left |Mookie Betts ({{flag|USA}}) – Baseball Brooks Koepka ({{flag|USA}}) – Golf Patrick Mahomes ({{flag|USA}}) – American football
|[{{cite news|last=Radcliffe|first=JR|title=Giannis Antetokounmpo named Best Male Athlete at ESPYS, and Christian Yelich also brings home a trophy|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2019/07/10/giannis-antetokounmpo-and-christian-yelich-honored-espys/1699955001/|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=July 10, 2019|access-date=August 23, 2020}}][{{cite web|last=Deither|first=Dylan|title=Brooks Koepka, Male Athlete of the Year? Golf's ESPY nominees are here|url=https://golf.com/news/golf-espy-nominees-brooks-koepka/|work=Golf Magazine|date=June 19, 2019|access-date=August 23, 2020}}] |
2020
| colspan=5 align=center|Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic
|[{{Cite news|last=Messer|first=Lesley|date=June 19, 2020|title=7 ways the 2020 ESPYS will be different amid the pandemic|publisher=Good Morning America|url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/ways-2020-espys-amid-pandemic-71286965|url-status=live|access-date=August 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620003348/https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/ways-2020-espys-amid-pandemic-71286965|archive-date=June 20, 2020}}] |
2021
|100px
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Tom|Brady}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|American football
| align=left |Lewis Hamilton ({{flag|GBR}}) – Formula One Nikola Jokić ({{flag|SER}}) – Basketball Connor McDavid ({{flag|CAN}}) – Ice hockey
|[{{cite web|title=The 2021 ESPYS Nominees|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/the-2021-espys-nominees/|website=ESPN Press Room U.S.|access-date=July 13, 2021}}][{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espys/story/_/page/voting-winners/2021-espys-award-winners |title=2021 ESPYS award winners|website=ESPN.com|date=July 10, 2021|access-date=July 10, 2021}}] |
2022
|100px
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Shohei|Ohtani}}
|{{flag|JPN}}
|Baseball
| align=left |Stephen Curry ({{flag|USA}}) – Basketball Connor McDavid ({{flag|CAN}}) – Ice hockey Aaron Rodgers ({{flag|USA}}) – American football
|[{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/espys/story/_/id/34271763/2022-espys-award-winners |title=2022 ESPYS: Full list of award winners |website=ESPN.com |access-date=July 20, 2022 |date=July 20, 2022}}][{{cite web|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/the-2022-espys-nominees/ |title=The 2022 ESPYS Nominees |website=espnpressroom.com |date=June 28, 2022 |access-date=July 3, 2022}}] |
2023
|100px
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Patrick|Mahomes}}
|{{flag|USA}}
|American football
| align=left |Nikola Jokić ({{flag|SER}}) – Basketball Aaron Judge ({{flag|USA}}) – Baseball Lionel Messi ({{flag|ARG}}) – Soccer
|[{{cite web|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/the-2023-espys-nominees/ |title=The 2023 ESPYS Nominees |website=espnpressroom.com |date=June 28, 2023 |access-date=July 6, 2023}}] |
2024
|100px
!scope="row"| {{sortname|Patrick|Mahomes}} (2)
|{{flag|USA}}
|American football
| align=left |Connor McDavid ({{flag|CAN}}) – Ice hockey Shohei Ohtani ({{flag|JPN}}) – Baseball Scottie Scheffler ({{flag|USA}}) – Golf
|[{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/espys/story/_/id/40520337/2024-espys-winners-list |title=2024 ESPYS: Here is the list of winners |website=ESPN.com |date=July 11, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}] |