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**NBA Social Justice Champion Award: Historical Winners**
NEW YORK—Today, the NBA revealed the five finalists vying for the 2024-25 NBA Social Justice Champion Award: Bam Adebayo (Miami HEAT), Harrison Barnes (San Antonio Spurs), Chris Boucher (Toronto Raptors), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), and CJ McCollum (New Orleans Pelicans). The annual award honors a current NBA player who champions social justice, awarding the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trophy as recognition for advancing Abdul-Jabbar’s mission to empower, engage, and promote equality for historically marginalized individuals and communities. The winner will be announced during the NBA Playoffs and will receive $100,000 to support a justice-oriented organization of their choice.
The finalists were chosen by a selection committee led by NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum, which includes social justice figures such as NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, human rights advocate Dr. Richard Lapchick, National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial, UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía, with Tatum continuing his role in the committee for the fifth year. Additionally, JJ Mandaquit from the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Court of Leaders served as the youth representative for a consecutive year.
Past recipients of the Social Justice Champion Award comprise notable names such as Carmelo Anthony, Reggie Bullock, Stephen Curry, and last year’s honoree, Karl Anthony-Towns.
**Profiles of the NBA Social Justice Champion Finalists:**
Bam Adebayo stands out for his dedication to community engagement, consistently leading initiatives for both his teammates and the Miami community. Through the Bam, Books, and Brotherhood Foundation, he has made remarkable contributions to local programs, including over $40,000 to the Liberty City Youth Center, $8,000 for the Bam Adebayo Outdoor Classroom at Northeast Elementary School in North Carolina, a special Mother’s Day initiative providing $2,500 for mothers’ shopping sprees, and $2,000 for the Northside High School athletic department for the 2024 Phenom Hoops Showcase Tournament, totaling over $50,000 in charitable efforts. Moreover, the foundation recently made headlines by visiting Paris, France, where it collaborated with Necker Hospital to surprise a fan with a signed jersey and game tickets during the Paris Olympics.
Harrison Barnes exhibits unwavering dedication to education, community enhancement, and social justice. On February 18, he and his spouse pledged a $250,000 donation to AlamoPROMISE, a tuition-free initiative supporting St. Philip’s College, the nation’s sole HBCU and Hispanic-Serving Institution. In December 2024, he contributed $50,000 to UNICEF USA to bolster humanitarian aid efforts across the nation and added $100,000 to Athletes in Action, focusing on the holistic development of athletes. Additionally, Barnes donated $10,000 to the Los Angeles Nomadic Division, which leverages art to connect communities.
Barnes also initiated a court refurbishment project across three cities, kicking off at the Guadalupe Community Center (GCC) in San Antonio, where more than 40% of residents live below the federal poverty line. He has invested personal time in engaging with local nonprofits such as Mi Corazon Ministries, Black Outside, and Gardopia Gardens.
Chris Boucher champions economic and racial justice through youth empowerment, particularly for Black and Caribbean youth in Canada who face systemic challenges in education, mental health services, and economic opportunities. His SlimmDuck Foundation orchestrates ongoing programs that have touched over 1,000 youth in Toronto and Montreal, focusing on scholarships, mental health advocacy, and community activities. Drawing from his own experience of homelessness, Boucher actively participates in initiatives such as hosting youth basketball camps in three cities, holiday meal and toy distribution events, and co-leading a mental health panel called “MindFull” during Mental Health Week. He has also provided scholarships at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and facilitated tech donations to support girls in STEM through Hackergals. The SlimmDuck Foundation gained further exposure through Boucher’s involvement in Kids Help Phone’s national “Feel Out” campaign, which achieved over 1.5 million media impressions. To date, Boucher has allocated over $10,000 for scholarships, technology donations, and community support, partnering with organizations like Puma, Subway, and the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Two-time NBA Champion Jrue Holiday, along with his wife Lauren through their Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund (JLH Fund), has initiated the Boston Creator Incubator + Accelerator in collaboration with Boston Xchange, founded by Celtics star Jaylen Brown. This program aids Boston-based creators and entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds by offering grants of up to $100,000 per business, along with coaching and access to prestigious institutions like MIT and Harvard. The initiative empowers founders to prototype and formally launch their businesses within a supportive ecosystem of advisors and investors. Holiday’s broader vision revolves around fostering economic empowerment through impactful philanthropy and strategic resource allocation.
Since its establishment, the JLH Fund has channeled over $5.3 million in grants and has provided more than 400 hours of coaching and mentorship to almost 200 businesses nationwide. The fund was created after Jrue committed the remainder of his 2020 NBA salary—$5 million—to address systemic racism and economic inequality. Recently, the JLH Fund also mobilized efforts to support families impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles in 2025. Holiday is also engaged with the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition’s board, cooperating with fellow players, coaches, and NBA leaders to pursue policy and advocacy measures related to racial equity and social justice.
CJ McCollum serves as a prominent advocate for social justice within the New Orleans Pelicans organization. He has facilitated discussions with teammates about the importance of justice reform, voting rights, and economic empowerment, while also contributing to league-wide policy debates to influence the NBA’s position on youth incarceration and educational reform. McCollum’s initiatives have galvanized the entire Pelicans organization to enhance community outreach and invest in sustainable impact projects. The team has collaborated with McCollum to create career opportunities for McCollum Scholars and broaden mentorship resources for youth. Under his leadership, the Pelicans have become increasingly involved in critical discussions around policy reform and racial justice.
Committed to reforming Louisiana’s youth incarceration system, McCollum actively engages with key stakeholders and uses his platform to advocate for systemic changes. Last spring, he inaugurated an education and innovation hub at the Westbank Boys & Girls Club, equipped with advanced technology and creative environments. In December 2024, McCollum hosted youth from the Boys & Girls Club for a Suite Night at a Pelicans game, complete with gifts, activities, and a chance to meet players. He also made a visit to patients at the Children’s Hospital in New Orleans, where he delivered gifts and engaged in personal interactions.
