Former NBA Champion Honored With Courage Award At 2020 ESPYs

The self-quarantine period keeps extending due to the severity of the coronavirus. However, there are certain events that are taking place regardless, but in a different fashion. In April, we saw the completion of the 2020 WNBA draft. While it remained as an option for the NBA, there were too many complications. The league has now pushed the draft to October 16th. 

Every year, sports personalities and avid fans can’t contain their excitement knowing that the ESPYs are around the corner. This year, however, the annual awards were held a bit differently due to the pandemic. In a remote award function, a Cleveland Cavaliers player deservingly got the limelight. 

Former NBA Champion Kevin Love wins Courage Award

The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is a prestigious honor and an annual award at the ESPYs. For this year, Cleveland Cavaliers center Kevin Love is the man with the honor of receiving the award. Love has been extremely active in advocating and raising awareness about mental health. SportsCenter posted a motivational video honoring Kevin Love. A young fan featured in the video, shares how the NBA star helped him in reaching out for help.

In a video released by ESPN, the five-time NBA All-Star shared a profound message as his acceptance speech. “When I first shared my own personal story about mental health, I did not expect the incredible response I received from my peers, from the league, and from sports fans all over the world,” Love said. 

The 31-year-old also thanked Spurs player DeMar DeRozan in the video. According to Love, DeRozan, who opened up about depression a couple of years ago, helped him break the stigma. “When I think about those I am joining as an Ashe award recipient, humble does not even begin to describe the feeling. Billie Jean King, Muhammad Ali, Bill Russell and I am not going to try and do justice to all that these trailblazing icons have achieved, but I want to recognize and remind you that when they spoke up, they were not greeted with the warm reception that I was.”

“In light of all that is going on in our country today, I accept this award as both an honor and a challenge. A challenge to not only continue on my path, but to push beyond it and stay vocal even when silence feels safer. I thank you again,” Love concluded.