The NBA has named five finalists for its Social Justice Champion award, recognizing players whose work extends beyond basketball and into community impact. The finalists are Bam Adebayo, Harrison Barnes, Jaylen Brown, Tobias Harris, and Larry Nance Jr.
The league will announce the winner during the Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs, and the honoree will receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trophy along with a $100,000 donation from the NBA to a nonprofit of his choice. The award is designed to honor a current player who advances Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s mission of engagement, empowerment, and equality for people and groups who have faced historic disadvantage.
How the finalists were chosen
The five finalists came from a pool of nominees submitted by NBA teams to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion selection committee. The committee includes social justice leaders and members of the NBA family, and this cycle introduces a new group of members after five years of service from the previous committee.
That committee features Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum, along with Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, Vanessa Garrison, Shanita Brackett, Kyle Lierman, Kathy Behrens, Erika Swilley, and Cayden Daughtry Jr. The NBA said the revised committee continues the award’s focus on broad community leadership and thoughtful evaluation.
Bam Adebayo’s focus on youth and food security
Adebayo’s work centers on educational equity, food security, and youth development in South Florida and North Carolina. Through the Bam Adebayo Foundation, he led 18 social justice initiatives during the season and invested more than $563,000 in programs aimed at underserved youth and families.
His efforts included providing mattresses, uniforms, and school supplies for students at The SEED School of Miami, funding transportation for more than 19,000 students to attend the Miami Book Fair, and hosting experiences built around mentorship and exposure to new opportunities. He also supported holiday meal distributions, an annual toy drive that served more than 2,000 children, and a renovated Miami HEAT-themed basketball court at Camillus House Homeless Shelter.
Barnes expands support across San Antonio and beyond
Barnes continued a long-running commitment to educational equity, economic opportunity, and youth development through efforts in San Antonio and other communities. During the season, he committed $150,000 to 10 San Antonio nonprofit organizations that work in mental health, housing stability, civic engagement, and economic empowerment.
He also made the largest single contribution in the history of the San Antonio MLK Commission Scholarship Program with a $50,000 donation for graduating seniors pursuing higher education. Barnes further addressed food insecurity by providing groceries and gift cards to nearly 200 families on San Antonio’s East Side and supported court refurbishment projects in San Antonio, Austin, and Saltillo, Mexico.
Brown backs ownership and career access
Brown’s social justice work has emphasized economic equity and educational access, especially for Black and Brown communities. Through Boston XChange and the Boston Creator Accelerator, which he co-founded with the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Fund, he helped create a $2.5 million capital pool for minority-owned businesses.
That support included funding, mentorship, and institutional partnerships, while Brown also invested personally in cohort companies. His 7uice Foundation Bridge Program remained another major part of his effort, offering mentorship, STEAM exposure, college readiness, and workforce placement opportunities for students nationwide.
Harris targets homeownership barriers
Harris focused on housing access and long-term wealth creation through the Tobias Harris Homeownership Initiative. The project uses a shared-appreciation mortgage model intended to reduce upfront costs and lower monthly payments for qualified first-time buyers in Detroit.
Harris invested more than $1 million into the pilot program and worked with public, private, and philanthropic partners to build a path toward stable homeownership. His broader housing work also includes involvement in more than 560 affordable housing units across five projects in Los Angeles.
Nance Jr. highlights immigrant and healthcare advocacy
Nance Jr. used his platform to support immigrant justice, healthcare equity, education access, and underserved families. He drew attention to those issues through his pregame walk-ins and also supported women in sports and immigrant advocacy during the season.
His efforts included donations to The Haven Home for pregnant and parenting women experiencing homelessness, a $15,000 contribution to Cleveland Clinic digestive health research through Athletes vs. Crohn’s & Colitis, and the creation of the Elevating Possibility Scholarship for high school seniors excelling in arts or athletics. He also partnered with Swensons in Akron to raise funds and collect supplies for Akron Public Schools, matching every dollar raised.