LeBron James leads call to end gun violence at ESPY Awards

Eric Berry of the Chiefs, accepts the award for best comeback athlete Wednesday at the ESPY Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Eric Berry of the Chiefs, accepts the award for best comeback athlete Wednesday at the ESPY Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - 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.

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.

"The urgency to create change is at an all-time high," Anthony said.

James urged his fellow pros to educate themselves and renounce violence while using their resources and time to help strengthen and rebuild their communities.

"We all to have do better," he said.

Breanna Stewart won best female athlete on her third try, beating WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne and two Olympians, swimmer Katie Ledecky and gymnast Simone Biles.

"I know everyone in this room loves and supports women and girls in sports and wants to be a part of that change, right?" she said. "Equality for all takes each of us making an effort. Together let's be better."

WWE star John Cena hosted the show from Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

In one of the night's most emotional moments, Zaevion Dobson, a 15-year-old high school football player from Knoxville, Tenn., was honored posthumously with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for giving his life to shield two young women from gunfire last year. His mother, Zenobia Dobson, and two brothers accepted the trophy from Curry.

"I'm here to fight back," Dobson said. "We as a country need to take a stand to consider the effects of gun violence on the families throughout America."

Vice President Joe Biden presented TNT sideline reporter Craig Sager with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance for his strength and determination while fighting leukemia for 11/2 years. During the commercial break, Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller joined Sager and Biden on stage for a photo.

The Pat Tillman Award for Service was presented to Paralympic swimmer Sgt. Elizabeth Marks for her strength through adversity and continued service to her country.