– The NBA today announced that Bam Adebayo (Miami HEAT), Harrison Barnes (San Antonio Spurs), Chris Boucher (Toronto Raptors), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics) and CJ McCollum (New Orleans Pelicans) have been selected as the five finalists for the 2024-25 NBA Social Justice Champion award.  The recipient of the annual award receives the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trophy and recognizes a current NBA player for pursuing social justice and advancing Abdul-Jabbar’s life mission to engage, empower and drive equality for individuals and groups who have been historically disadvantaged.  The NBA Social Justice Champion will be announced during the NBA Playoffs and receive $100,000 from the NBA to benefit a justice focused organization of his choosing.

The finalists were determined by a selection committee led by NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum, and comprised of social justice leaders including NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, human rights activist Dr. Richard Lapchick, National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial, UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía, and NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum who are in their fifth year as part of the committee.  JJ Mandaquit from the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Court of Leaders served as the youth representative for the second consecutive year.

Previous Social Justice Champion award winners include Carmelo Anthony, Reggie Bullock, Stephen Curry and last year’s winner, Karl Anthony-Towns.

Bam Adebayo set the standard for community involvement for his teammates and the Miami community with his continued efforts throughout the season.  Over the past year, Adebayo and his foundation, Bam, Books and Brotherhood Foundation have made significant contributions to community initiatives to make an impact in underserved communities.  This includes contributions of more than $40,000 to the Liberty City Youth Center; $8,000 as part of the Bam Adebayo Outdoor Classroom Dedication to Northeast Elementary School in Pinetown, North Carolina; a special Mother’s Day event providing mothers with $2,500 for a shopping spree; $2,000 to the athletic department of Northside High School for the 2024 Phenom Hoops Showcase Tournament; totaling Adebayo’s giving to more than $50,000 throughout the year.  Additionally, the Bam, Books and Brotherhood Foundation traveled to Paris, France and partnered with Necker Hospital to surprise a fan with a signed jersey and tickets to games during the Paris Olympics.

Barnes demonstrates steadfast commitment in the areas of education, community development, and social equality. On February 18, Barnes and his wife announced a $250,000 donation to AlamoPROMISE, a tuition-free program supporting St. Philip’s College, the nation’s only HBCU and Hispanic-Serving Institution. In December 2024, Barnes donated $50,000 to UNICEF USA to support their humanitarian aid efforts across the United States. Additionally, he contributed $100,000 to Athletes in Action, a global community that develops athletes physically, mentally, and spiritually. Barnes also donated $10,000 to Los Angeles Nomadic Division, which connects people and places through art.

Barnes launched a court refurbishment program across three cities, starting with the Guadalupe Community Center (GCC) in San Antonio, where over 40% of neighbors live below the federal poverty level. He has dedicated his personal time to connecting with local nonprofits like Mi Corazon Ministries, Black Outside, Gardopia Gardens, and others.

Chris Boucher is advancing economic and racial justice through youth empowerment, focusing on Black and Caribbean youth in Canada who face systemic barriers to education, mental health support, and economic opportunity.  Through his SlimmDuck Foundation, Boucher has led year-round initiatives reaching over 1000 youth across Toronto and Montreal, including scholarships, mental health advocacy, and community programming.  Having experienced homelessness himself, he channels his lived experience into action.  In 2024-25, Boucher hosted youth basketball camps in three cities, organized holiday meals and toy giveaways for at-risk youth and communities, led a Raptors-backed clinic with Puma, and co-hosted “MindFull”, a mental health panel during Mental Health Week.  He also awarded scholarships at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), donated 15+ computer monitors and equipment to Hackergals supporting girls in STEM, and raised funds through “Night of Laughter”, a comedy event featuring Black talent. The SlimmDuck Foundation increased its visibility through Boucher’s participation in Kids Help Phone’s national “Feel Out” campaign, which garnered over 1.5M media impressions.  Boucher has contributed over $10,000 in scholarships, tech donations, and community support, while securing impactful partnerships with Puma, Subway, Kids Help Phone, United Way Greater Toronto, Canadian Mental Health Association, 211, and the Montreal Community Cares Foundation.

Two-time NBA Champion Jrue Holiday, alongside his wife Lauren Holiday through their Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund (JLH Fund), launched the Boston Creator Incubator + Accelerator in partnership with Boston Xchange (founded by Celtics star Jaylen Brown). This initiative supports Boston-based creators and entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities by providing up to $100,000 in grant capital per business, along with elite coaching and access to top institutions like MIT, Harvard, and Suffolk University. The Incubator empowers founders to prototype, produce, and publicly launch their ventures while being supported by a powerful ecosystem of advisors, investors, and champions. The effort reflects Holiday’s broader mission to drive economic empowerment through catalytic philanthropy and creative capital deployment.

Since its inception, the JLH Fund has deployed over $5.3 million in grants and delivered more than 400 hours of coaching and support to nearly 200 businesses across the U.S. The Fund was established after Jrue pledged the remainder of his 2020 NBA salary—$5 million—to combat systemic racism and economic injustice. Most recently, JLH mobilized resources to support families affected by the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Holiday also serves on the board of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, working with fellow players, coaches, and NBA leadership to advance policy and advocacy efforts around racial equity and social justice.

CJ McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans

McCollum has been a leading social justice voice within the New Orleans Pelicans organization.  McCollum has led internal discussions with teammates on the importance of justice reform, voting rights, and economic empowerment.  He actively engages in league-wide policy discussions, helping shape the NBA’s stance on youth incarceration and education reform.  McCollum’s efforts have inspired the entire Pelicans organization to increase community engagement and invest in sustainable impact initiatives.  The Pelicans have partnered with McCollum to create career opportunities for McCollum Scholars and expand mentorship for youth.  Through McCollum’s leadership, the Pelicans have become more active in conversations around policy reform and racial justice.

McCollum continues to work toward reforming Louisiana’s youth incarceration system by engaging with key stakeholders and using his platform to push for systemic change.  Last spring, McCollum opened an education and innovation hub at the Westbank Boys & Girls Club with cutting-edge technology and creative spaces.  In December 2024, McCollum hosted Boys & Girls Club youth for a Suite Night at a Pelicans game, including gifting, activities and a meet-and-greet.  McCollum also visited patients at the Children’s Hospital in New Orleans, delivering gifts and engaging in one-on-one conversations.