The NBA announced that Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo has been named the 2025-26 Social Justice Champion, a trophy named after Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In addition to giving Adebayo the away, the NBA also will be making a $100,000 donation to his organization, Bam, Books & Brotherhood Foundation. That is the cool part about this award as they make a charitable donation selected by the award winner on their behalf.
“Bam Adebayo has followed in the path of Kareem and other humanitarian leaders from throughout the league’s history by using his platform to create sustained impact for young people and families across South Florida and North Carolina,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum in a statement. “From investing in educational access and youth mentorship to addressing food insecurity and creating spaces where young people can thrive, Bam has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing opportunity and equity for others. We are proud to recognize him as the 2025-26 NBA Social Justice Champion.”
Abdul-Jabbar’s life mission is to engage, empower and drive equality for communities that have been disadvantaged and under-resourced. This is what made the Lakers legend a one-of-one kind of person as he used his platform to pay back it to those who need more resources to succeed in life.
To name a few of Adebayo’s actions, he provided mattresses, uniforms and school supplies for students at the SEED School of Miami, provided funding transportation for more than 19,000 students to attend the Miami Book Fair and hosting mentorship and enrichment opportunities for students to explore career pathways.
There are more charitable actions that the Heat star has done and he certainly deserved Abdul Jabbar’s award. He was selected from a group of finalists that included Harrison Barnes (San Antonio Spurs), Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), Tobias Harris (Detroit Pistons) and Larry Nance Jr. (Cleveland Cavaliers).
Despite not winning awards, plenty of NBA players have taken advantage of their successes and paid it forward. They do not do it for notoriety, but they do it so communities have an equal opportunity to strive for success in life.
All-time winners of Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA Social Justice award
The 2020-21 season was the inauguration of the NBA Social Justice award with former Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony winning it. Followed by Reggie Bullock (Dallas Mavericks), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics) and now Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat) in 2026.
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