The National Basketball Association (NBA) has recently introduced a new annual award called the NBA Social Justice Champion Award, which will honor a current NBA player for their efforts in pursuing social justice and promoting the league’s long-standing values of equality, respect, and inclusion. The award is named after the legendary basketball player and six-time NBA champion, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is also a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer.

The recipient of this prestigious award will have demonstrated exceptional leadership in advocating for social justice causes and advancing Abdul-Jabbar’s mission to drive change. Additionally, they will have inspired others to reflect on injustice and take collective action in their communities over the previous year. The winners of this award will receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trophy as a symbol of their outstanding contributions towards promoting social justice and equality.

year-by-year list of the NBA Social Justice Champion Award winners, a new annual honor that will recognize a current NBA player for pursuing social justice and upholding the league’s decades-long values of equality, respect and inclusion. The award is named after six-time NBA champion and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.  The recipient will have advanced Abdul-Jabbar’s mission to drive change and inspired others to reflect on injustice and take collective action in their communities over the previous year. The winners receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trophy.

NBA Social Justice Champion Award Winners:

2022-23: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

2021-22: Reggie Bullock (Dallas Mavericks)

2020-21: Carmelo Anthony (Portland Trail Blazers)