The 2017 Kids' Choice Sports was the inaugural edition of the Kids' Choice Sports awards ceremony, a spin‑off of Nickelodeon's long‑running Kids' Choice Awards focused exclusively on sports. Organized by the American cable network Nickelodeon, the event honored athletes, teams, and moments from the world of sports as voted on by a youth audience.
Date and venue
- Date: July 12, 2017
- Location: Pauley Pavilion, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, United States
Production
- Produced by: Nickelodeon Productions in association with Nickelodeon Networks International.
- Broadcast: The ceremony was aired live on Nickelodeon in the United States and simulcast internationally on various regional Nickelodeon channels.
Host and presenters
- Host: American actor and comedian Russell Brand served as the main host of the ceremony.
- A roster of athletes, entertainers, and media personalities presented awards throughout the evening, including notable figures such as Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Hart, and Tom Brady.
Performers
- Musical performances were delivered by pop acts including Camila Cabello, who performed the song “Crying in the Club,” and the band Stone Temple Pilots.
Award categories and winners
The ceremony featured 18 categories reflecting a range of sports and achievements. Notable award winners included:
- Best Male Athlete: Stephen Curry (basketball)
- Best Female Athlete: Simone Biles (gymnastics)
- Favorite Newcomer: Jayson Tatum (basketball)
- Hands‑of‑Gold Award (most charitable athlete): Derek Jeter (baseball)
- Best Team: Golden State Warriors (NBA)
- King of Swag: Odell Beckham Jr. (American football)
- Best Sports Movie: The Blind Side
Voting process
Voting for the Kids' Choice Sports awards was conducted online via the official Kids' Choice website and through the Nickelodeon mobile app. The voting period spanned several weeks prior to the ceremony, allowing children and teens to select their favorite athletes and moments across a variety of sports disciplines.
Reception and impact
The 2017 Kids' Choice Sports received mixed reviews from critics, with praise directed at its effort to engage younger audiences in sports culture and criticism focused on the brevity of certain award presentations. The ceremony garnered a viewership of approximately 2.1 million in the United States on its live broadcast, indicating a modest but notable audience for a niche awards show. The event established a template for subsequent annual Kids' Choice Sports ceremonies held in 2018, 2019, and beyond.
Legacy
As the first installment of the Kids' Choice Sports franchise, the 2017 ceremony set precedents for categories, the integration of fan voting, and the blending of entertainment and athletic recognition within a format tailored to a youth demographic. It contributed to Nickelodeon’s broader strategy of expanding its awards programming beyond traditional film and television content.