ESPY Awards 2012 Nominees: Basketball Players Who Will Take Home Honors

The 2012 ESPY Awards will honor athletes from across the sporting spectrum. Nominees hail from all sports, and they earned their bids for a number of reasons.

Some of these athletes earned their bids through excellence on the hardwood. They may be college or professional, male or female, but these players are the best at what they do.

Let's look at the basketball players you can expect to take home the accolades Wednesday night. These don't include team or coach nominations.

LeBron James

What He Will Win: Best Male Athlete, Best Championship Performance

Like there could be any other choice at this point. Barring a major upset, James will win ESPY awards for each of these categories Wednesday night.

LeBron is always a threat to bring home the hardware, but his championship this season guarantees it. He was superhuman in Miami's effort to win the title, and the sporting world isn't going to let that go unnoticed.

He's in a rare category. He's only 27 years old, and he's already reached that "first-name basis" category in sports. People just say "LeBron," and no other explanation is needed.

Expect one of sports' biggest icons to be rewarded multiple times Wednesday evening.

Brittney Griner

What She Will Win: Best Female Athlete, Best Female College Athlete

Griner is unlike anything the basketball world has ever seen. She led Baylor to an NCAA Women's National Championship this past season on both ends of the floor.

She changed games with her shot-blocking ability and tantalizing athleticism down low. Her 6'8'' frame made her nearly impossible to guard and was a big reason she was able to block over five shots per game.

Griner will go against Maria Sharapova, Lindsey Vonn and Abby Wambach for this award, but I can't see any of them winning. She was simply too good and too unique to be passed over.

Don't be surprised if she wins more awards later in her WNBA career.

Kevin Durant

What He Will Win: Best NBA Player

I'm basing this on the "spread the love" idea. LeBron is the favorite here, but I'd like to see Durant earn an honor.

He won another scoring title this season en route to the Thunder's NBA Finals run. He's the purest scorer in the NBA today, and that should be recognized.

This category is stacked. You can't count out Kobe Bryant either, because he's Kobe, but I like Durant to get the job done.

Scoring is necessary to win, and Durant does it better than anyone.

Seimone Augustus

What She Will Win: Best WNBA Player

Augustus will upset last year's winner Diana Taurasi because of her stellar play this season. She's averaging 16.5 points per game for the Minnesota Lynx to go along with 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest.

Augustus has been a star since her days playing at LSU. She's an excellent point guard because of her ability to shoot, create for herself or find an open teammate.

Taurasi is averaging more than five fewer points this year, and she won't repeat.

I like Augustus to win the award in her sixth professional season.

Anthony Davis

What He Will Win: Best Male College Athlete

I'll admit that this one is far from a sure thing. Davis is going to have stiff competition from Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck, but he's the only college athlete on this list with a national championship to his credit.

Davis altered the college basketball landscape this past season. He brought intangibles previously foreign to young players and a motor that doesn't quit to Lexington.

Now that he's become the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, Davis is solidified as one of the most hyped college athletes of all time.

I can't see him being passed over. He has the media hype, the credentials and the promise of brighter days in the future.

He will win another award before his career turns its final page.