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Curry, Messi, Williams headline SI's Sportsman of the Year finalists

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, and tennis star Serena Williams are among the 12 finalists for Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year.

Curry captured NBA MVP honors for the first time and commandeered the Warriors to the league's best record at 67-15. The Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games to win their first championship since 1975.

Messi led Barcelona to a spectacular treble as the Catalan giant captured La Liga, Copa Del Rey, and UEFA Champions League titles. The Argentine national scored 58 goals in 57 appearances, part of a prolific front line that also boasted world-class attackers Neymar and Luis Suarez.

Williams compiled one of the most dominant seasons of the Open era, capturing the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. The American's quest for a calendar Grand Slam fell short when she was defeated by Roberta Vinci in the US Open semifinals.

UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, World Series champion Kansas City Royals, Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, American artistic gymnast Simone Biles, U.S. women's national team star forward Carli Lloyd, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, golfer Jordan Spieth, and tennis star Novak Djokovic are among the other finalists.

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