LeBron James, Serena Williams Lead ESPY Nominations

The Heat star has been nominated as Best Male Athlete, Best NBA Player and Best Championship Performance

LeBron James has already repeated as an NBA champion, and now he'll look to rule the ESPYs for a second year in a row. James, the reigning NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP, is nominated for Best Male Athlete, Best NBA Player and Best Championship performance.

James won two of those awards last year, but has some stiff competition this time around. In the Best Male Athlete category, he'll compete against the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson, Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps and Detroit Tigers' third baseman Miguel Cabrera. In the Championship Performance category, he'll face Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, NASCAR Champion Brad Keselowski and San Francisco Giants' third baseman Pablo Sandoval.

Also read: Larry King Gets LeBron James to Say Cleveland Has 'An Edge'

His team, the Miami Heat, will also look to repeat as Best Team, vying against six others, including the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team and San Francisco Giants.

"Pardon the Interruption" hosts Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser will host a July 1 special devoted to the nominees while Jon Hamm will host this year's ceremony July 17.

Another top nominee is Serena Williams, who could win Best Female Athlete for the sixth time. Other nominees include Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin and last year's winner, former Baylor basketball player Brittney Griner.

Williams has also won Best Female Tennis Player five times, and will compete this year against Maria Sharapova, whom she just beat at the French Open.

Other nominees include Floyd Mayweather for Best Fighter and Drew Brees for Best Record-Breaking Performance.

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