LeBron James won five trophies, including best male athlete and best NBA player, at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night when frivolity gave way to a James-led call to end gun violence and racial profiling.
LeBron beat out Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller for Best Championship Performance, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat out the Super Bowl Champion Broncos for the Best Team Award.
Former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning won an ESPY Icon Award, along with former US soccer player Abby Wambach and former Laker Kobe Bryant. All three icons retired this season. Peyton said he is looking forward to being a fan again, because being a fan of the NFL is how he started his career. He said none of the athletes on stage would be where they are today without the fans.
Colorado's Christian McCaffrey of Stanford and Valor Christian High School was up for the Best Record-Breaking Performance Award, but Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors was the winner.
The show honoring the year's best athletes and sports moments opened on a somber note, with James and fellow NBA stars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade standing four abreast on stage addressing the recent shootings of blacks by white police officers.
Paul, the nephew of a police officer, recited the names of several men who have been fatally shot. Wade urged a stop to racial profiling, a shoot-to-kill mentality and "not seeing the value of black and brown bodies."
James urged his fellow pros to educate themselves and renounce violence while using their resources and time to help strengthen and rebuild their communities.