Miami’s Bam Adebayo Named NBA Social Justice Champion
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MIAMI — Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo received the NBA’s 2026 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award on Friday night, recognizing his community work and advocacy for underserved youth.
The honor comes with the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy and a $100,000 league donation to a charity of Adebayo’s choosing. He is the sixth player to earn the distinction, following Jrue Holiday (2025), Karl-Anthony Towns (2024), Stephen Curry (2023), Reggie Bullock (2022) and Carmelo Anthony (2021).
Foundation Investments
Adebayo’s nonprofit, the Bam Adebayo Foundation, directed more than $563,000 to 18 initiatives this season aimed at educational equity, food security and youth development in South Florida and his home state of North Carolina. Key projects included:
• Providing mattresses, uniforms and school supplies for students at The SEED School of Miami.
• Funding transportation for over 19,000 students to attend the Miami Book Fair.
• Distributing holiday meals to address food insecurity.
• Hosting a toy drive that served more than 2,000 children, with remaining toys shared among local organizations.
• Renovating a basketball court at Camillus House Homeless Shelter.
Selection Process
A committee featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, “Realize The Dream” co-founders Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, GirlTREK president Vanessa Garrison, and additional leaders from civic, cultural and basketball organizations chose Adebayo from a group of five finalists. The other nominees were Harrison Barnes (San Antonio), Jaylen Brown (Boston), Tobias Harris (Detroit) and Larry Nance Jr. (Cleveland).
Adebayo, who logged an 83-point performance earlier this season—the second-highest single-game total in league history—said the recognition underscores his commitment to giving children opportunities he lacked while growing up.
Source: ESPN
