It has been presented annually at the ESPY Awards (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award) since 1993 to the male voted irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the best athlete in a given calendar year.
[1] The Best Male Athlete ESPY Award trophy, designed by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan,[2] is presented to the recipient at an annual ceremony in Los Angeles.
[4] Through the 2001 iteration of the ESPY Awards, ceremonies were conducted in February of each year to honor achievements over the previous calendar year; awards presented thereafter are conferred in July and reflect performance from the June previous.
[a][5] The inaugural winner of the Best Male Athlete ESPY Award was basketball player Michael Jordan in 1993.
[6] Four American athletes, golfer Tiger Woods, road cyclist Lance Armstrong, basketball player LeBron James, and American football player Patrick Mahomes have won the award multiple times.