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0 The NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award is an annual honor that recognizes a player, coach, or athletic trainer in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for their exceptional service and dedication to their community. The award is named after the NBA’s second commissioner, J. Walter Kennedy, and is presented every year by the Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA).
Since the award’s inception in 1975, many notable individuals have received it for their outstanding contributions to their communities. The most recent award recipient, for the 2022-23 NBA season, was Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the award was not presented in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 NBA seasons.
Previous winners of the award include Malcolm Brogdon of the Indiana Pacers in 2019-20, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers in 2018-19, LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016-17, and Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns in 2006-07. Other winners include Alonzo Mourning, Magic Johnson, David Robinson, and Reggie Miller, to name a few.
The NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award is highly regarded in the NBA community and serves as a testament to the players, coaches, and athletic trainers who go above and beyond to give back to their communities. It recognizes not only their achievements on the court but also their contributions to society as a whole.
A year-by-year list of the NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winners. The honor, named after the NBA’s second commissioner, is presented annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA) to a player, coach or athletic trainer who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community.
2022-23 – Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
2021-22 – N/A (pandemic)
2020-21 – N/A (pandemic)
2019-20 — Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers
2018-19 — Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
2017-18 — J.J. Barea, Dallas Mavericks
2016-17 — LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
2015-16 — Wayne Ellington, Brooklyn Nets
2014-15 — Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls
2013-14 — Luol Deng, Cleveland Cavaliers
2012-13 — Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets
2011-12 — Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
2010-11 — Ron Artest, Los Angeles Lakers
2009-10 — Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia 76ers
2008-09 — Dikembe Mutombo, Houston Rockets
2007-08 — Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
2006-07 — Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
2005-06 — Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
2004-05 — Eric Snow, Cleveland Cavaliers
2003-04 — Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers
2002-03 — David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
2001-02 — Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat
2000-01 — Dikembe Mutombo, Philadelphia 76ers
1999-00 — Vlade Divac, Sacramento Kings
1998-99 — Brian Grant, Portland Trail Blazers
1997-98 — Steve Smith, Atlanta Hawks
1996-97 — P.J. Brown, Miami Heat
1995-96 — Chris Dudley, Portland Trail Blazers
1994-95 — Joe O’Toole, Atlanta Hawks
1993-94 — Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons
1992-93 — Terry Porter, Portland Trail Blazers
1991-92 — Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
1990-91 — Kevin Johnson, Phoenix Suns
1989-90 — Doc Rivers, Atlanta Hawks
1988-89 — Thurl Bailey, Utah Jazz
1987-88 — Alex English, Denver Nuggets
1986-87 — Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons
1985-86 — Rory Sparrow/Michael Cooper, New York Knicks/Los Angeles Lakers
1984-85 — Dan Issel, Denver Nuggets
1983-84 — Frank Layden, Utah Jazz
1982-83 — Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers
1981-82 — Kent Benson, Detroit Pistons
1980-81 — Mike Glenn, New York Knicks
1979-80 — Austin Carr, Cleveland Cavaliers
1978-79 — Calvin Murphy, Houston Rockets
1977-78 — Bob Lanier, Detroit Pistons
1976-77 — Dave Bing, Washington Bullets
1975-76 — Slick Watts, Seattle SuperSonics
1974-75 — Wes Unseld, Washington Bullets
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