Lakers News: Deandre Ayton Named November Recipient Of Bob Lanier Community Assist Award

The NBA and NBPA announced that Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton has been named the recipient of the Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for the month of November. The NBA and NBPA will donate $20,000 to the Ayton Family Foundation (AFF).

Ayton is being recognized for his efforts in helping families and children throughout the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Los Angeles. Ayton was born in the Bahamas while his mother Andrea is of Jamaican descent. The Lakers surprised Ayton with the award during a recent practice.

“My family taught me that feeding people is love, and that’s exactly what the Foundation represents,” Ayton said in a statement. “We honor our roots by giving back, creating access and building a stronger future for the communities that made us who we are.” 

Ayton has launched a number of community investments over the past few months in his mother’s hometown of St. Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica, in order to help rebuild the city in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. This includes the AFF helping to revitalize the Cedar Springs Community Center in July. That provided residents with access to food, school supplies, games and health services. Ayton would then host more than 100 children to celebrate the reopening of the center.

Ayton and the AFF also donated $100,000 towards hurricane relief efforts while also pledging to continue to support rebuilding projects throughout the area in 2026.

The center is also making an impact in L.A. as he and the AFF launched the Ayton Ally-Oop program. The program will work to provide youth throughout Southern California access to live sports experiences, and prioritize organizations that serve underrepresented and economically disadvantaged communities. The AFF also partnered with SüprMarkt LA, a Black-led food justice organization working to address food insecurity in South Los Angeles.

The Bob Lanier Community Assist Award was created to honor Hall of Famer Bob Lanier who enjoyed a 14-year NBA career with the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. He also served as NBA Cares Ambassador for more than 30 years and was greatly influential in growing the game globally, traveling the world to teach the values of the game and making a positive impact through his kindness and generosity.

Deandre Ayton’s mom Andrea cooked for Lakers players

As Ayton said, he was taught by his family that feeding people is love, and his mother Andrea recently showed that by preparing a traditional Caribbean meal for the entire Lakers organization.

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