Nickelodeon has announced the nominations for the second annual Kids’ Choice Sports 2015, the only awards show for kids where NFL champions go head-to-head with tennis legends, and NBA record holders compete with NASCAR racers celebrating kids’ favorite athletes and sports moments of the year. Beginning June 8, fans can cast their votes in 12 total categories here! Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Quarterback, Russell Wilson will host the awards when trophies are handed out live on Thursday, July 16 at 8pm (ET/PT) from Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.
Derek Jeter will be honored with the Legend Award at this year’s show in recognition of his unmatched talent, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field. The Legend Award honors athletes who are the ultimate role models to kids across the globe, inspiring generations year after year.
The categories and nominees for Kids’ Choice Sports 2015 are:
Best Male and Female Athlete
The nominees for these two categories represent the best male and female athletes currently competing in traditional sports. They are, simply put, the best athletes in the world.
Best Male Athlete
Aaron Rodgers (NFL, Green Bay Packers)
LeBron James (NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers)
Lionel Messi (Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Argentina Men’s National Team)
Mike Trout (MLB, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)
Rory McIlroy (PGA and PGA European)
Russell Wilson (NFL, Seattle Seahawks)
Stephen Curry (NBA, Golden State Warriors)
Clayton Kershaw (MLB, Los Angeles Dodgers)
Best Female Athlete
Abby Wambach (USWNT)
Alex Morgan (USWNT and NWSL, Portland Thorns FC)
Candace Parker (WNBA, Los Angeles Sparks)
Danica Patrick (NASCAR)
Maria Sharapova (WTA)
Maya Moore (WNBA, Minnesota Lynx)
Serena Williams (WTA)
Stacy Lewis (LPGA)
Favorite Newcomer
The nominees in this category represent the first or second year pros who have lived up to the hype — in other words, the newbie that is most likely to succeed.
Amy Purdy (Professional Snowboarder)
Andrew Wiggins (NBA, Minnesota Timberwolves)
Joey Logano (NASCAR)
Jordan Spieth (PGA)
Jose Abreu (MLB, Chicago White Sox)
Malcolm Butler (NFL, New England Patriots)
Mikaela Shiffrin (Professional Alpine Ski Racer)
Odell Beckham Jr. (NFL, New York Giants)
Hands of Gold
The nominees in this category represent the MLB and NFL athletes who have made the most unbelievable, highlight reel worthy catches of the year from baseball or football, as well as the goalies of hockey and soccer who have made the most incredible saves of the year.
Andrew McCutchen (MLB, Pittsburgh Pirates)
Carey Price (NHL, Montreal Canadiens)
Dez Bryant (NFL, Dallas Cowboys)
Henrik Lundqvist (NHL, New York Rangers)
Mike Trout (MLB, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)
Odell Beckham Jr. (NFL, New York Giants)
Pekka Rinne (NHL, Nashville Predators)
Rob Gronkowski (NFL, New England Patriots)
Clutch Player of the Year
Teammates rely on these athletes to make the plays when it counts the most. The nominees in this category come from a variety of sports and alter the game just by being on the field.
Abby Wambach (USWNT)
Alexander Ovechkin (NHL, Washington Capitals)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Spanish club Real Madrid C.F. and the Portugal National Team)
DeMarco Murray (NFL, Dallas Cowboys)
Marshawn Lynch (NFL, Seattle Seahawks)
Maya Moore (WNBA, Minnesota Lynx)
Rob Gronkowski (NFL, New England Patriots)
Stephen Curry (NBA, Golden State Warriors)
Slickest Moves
Professional athletes make it look so easy that sometimes we forget the sheer agility required to play with the best of the best.
Ashley Wagner (US Figure Skating)
Blake Griffin (NBA, Los Angeles Clippers)
Gabriel Medina (Professional Surfer)
Lionel Messi (Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Argentina Men’s National Team)
Novak Djokovic (ATP)
Ronda Rousey (UFC)
Sidney Crosby (NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins)
Stephen Curry (NBA, Golden State Warriors)
Don’t Try This At Home Award
They’re the death-defying athletes of slopestyle, the BMX racers or the skateboarders who risk life and limb every day to accomplish the impossible.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (NASCAR)
Danny Davis (Professional Snowboarder)
Kelly Clark (Professional Snowboarder)
Lindsey Vonn (Professional Alpine Ski Racer)
Nyjah Huston (Professional Skateboarder)
Travis Pastrana (Motorsports)
Most Enthusiastic Player
This award honors those athletes who, win or lose, always show heart and enthusiasm for the game! The nominees in this category represent the athletes who know how to celebrate!
Aaron Rodgers (NFL, Green Bay Packers)
Cam Newton (NFL, Carolina Panthers)
Dwight Howard (NBA, Houston Rockets)
Gabby Douglas (US Gymnastics)
J.J. Watt (NFL, Houston Texans)
Novak Djokovic (ATP)
Rob Gronkowski (NFL, New England Patriots)
Serena Williams (WTA)
King and Queen of Swag
The male and female nominees in this category are the best dressed, and most stylin’ couple of athletes off the court. The King of Swag and the Queen of Swag are two separate awards that will be presented together.
King of Swag
Cam Newton (NFL, Carolina Panthers)
Carmelo Anthony (NBA, New York Knicks)
Chris Paul (NBA, Los Angeles Clippers)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Spanish club Real Madrid C.F. and the Portugal National Team)
LeBron James (NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers)
Rickie Fowler (PGA)
Roger Federer (ATP)
Russell Wilson (NFL, Seattle Seahawks)
Queen of Swag
Alex Morgan (USWNT and NWSL, Portland Thorns FC)
Lolo Jones (US Track and Field and Bobsled)
Maria Sharapova (WTA)
Ronda Rousey (UFC)
Serena Williams (WTA)
Skylar Diggins (WNBA, Tulsa Shock)
Best Cannon
This category honors the outfielders, pitchers, catchers, quarterbacks and tennis players with the strongest arms in the game.
Andrew Luck (NFL, Indianapolis Colts)
David Ortiz (MLB, Boston Red Sox)
Drew Brees (NFL, New Orleans Saints)
Mike Trout (MLB, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)
Peyton Manning (NFL, Denver Broncos)
Rafael Nadal (ATP)
Russell Wilson (NFL, Seattle Seahawks)
Serena Williams (WTA)
Biggest Powerhouse
This award honors those players that are an undeniable force on the field and on the court. Like a freight train or a Mack Truck, these athletes have so much power in their play, they cannot be stopped.
Blake Griffin (NBA, Los Angeles Clippers)
David Ortiz (MLB, Boston Red Sox)
J.J. Watt (NFL, Houston Texans)
LeBron James (NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers)
Marshawn Lynch (NFL, Seattle Seahawks)
Prince Fielder (MLB, Texas Rangers)
Ronda Rousey (UFC)
Serena Williams (WTA)
Additionally, leading up to the highly anticipated telecast, Nickelodeon is kicking off tryouts for the Kids’ Choice Sports 2015 “Triple Shot Challenge,” which will give three kids ages 9-14 an opportunity to score $50,000 each during the live broadcast. The “Triple Shot Challenge” builds upon the excitement of last year’s half-court contest which saw Ricardo Jacobo Jr. of Los Angeles, CA win $50K for sinking a half-court shot during the live show. ICYMI, Check it out below in a highlight reel from the inaugural 2014 Kids’ Choice Sports.
Auditions will be held for the Kids’ Choice Sports 2015 “Triple Shot Challenge,” which will give three kids ages 9-14 an opportunity to score $50,000 each during the live broadcast. The three finalists chosen will each be tasked with completing one athletic feat across either soccer (hit the crossbar of a soccer goal from up to 22-yards away), football (throw a football to hit a target from up to 30-yards) or basketball (sink a half-court shot).
June 13, soccer tryouts in the Bronx, NY at the New York City FC vs. Montreal Impact match. http://at.nick.com/crossbarchallenge
June 20, football tryouts in East Rutherford, N.J. at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center hosted by the New York Giants.
June 27, basketball tryouts in Los Angeles, CA at the LA Convention Center hosted by the BET Experience at L.A. Live.
