NEW YORK – The NBA today announced that Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo has been named the 2025-26 NBA Social Justice Champion and will receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy. The NBA will also donate $100,000 to the Bam, Books & Brotherhood Foundation – consistent with the award’s history of donating to an approved charitable beneficiary selected by the winner on their behalf. Adebayo was selected from a group of five finalists for helping promote social justice and advancing Abdul-Jabbar’s life mission to engage, empower and drive equality for communities that have been historically disadvantaged and under-resourced.
Through the Bam, Books & Brotherhood Foundation, Adebayo has continued to make a lasting impact through his commitment to educational equity, food security and youth development in communities across South Florida and North Carolina. During the 2025-26 NBA season, Adebayo led 18 social justice-and impact focused initiatives, investing more than a half-million dollars into programs designed to expand access and opportunity for youth and families.
Adebayo’s efforts included providing mattresses, uniforms and school supplies for students at The SEED School of Miami, funding transportation for more than 19,000 students to attend the Miami Book Fair and hosting mentorship and enrichment experiences designed to expose students to new opportunities and career pathways. He also addressed food insecurity through large-scale holiday meal distributions serving thousands of families across South Florida and hosted his annual toy drive at Kaseya Center, serving more than 2,000 children and distributing over 36,000 toys. Through his Bam Basketball Camp and ongoing support of the Liberty City Warriors youth program, Adebayo has continued to remove barriers to participation in sports and mentorship opportunities for underserved youth. Additionally, he donated a renovated Miami Heat-themed basketball court at Camillus House Homeless Shelter to create a permanent recreation and wellness space for residents experiencing homelessness.
“Bam Adebayo has followed in the path of Kareem and other humanitarian leaders from throughout the league’s history by using his platform to create sustained impact for young people and families across South Florida and North Carolina,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum. “From investing in educational access and youth mentorship to addressing food insecurity and creating spaces where young people can thrive, Bam has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing opportunity and equity for others. We are proud to recognize him as the 2025-26 NBA Social Justice Champion.”
Adebayo’s selection as the NBA Social Justice Champion was 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, Realize The Dream Co-Founders Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, GirlTREK Co-Founder and President Vanessa Garrison, National Museum of African American History & Culture Acting Director Shanita Brackett, Civic Nation CEO Kyle Lierman, NBA President of Social Responsibility & Player Programs Kathy Behrens, National Basketball Players Association Foundation Executive Director Erika Swilley and Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Court of Leaders member and Class of 2027 high school basketball player Cayden Daughtry Jr.
Adebayo was chosen for the award from among a group of finalists that included Harrison Barnes (San Antonio Spurs), Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), Tobias Harris (Detroit Pistons) and Larry Nance Jr. (Cleveland Cavaliers). This season, the NBA also announced Adebayo as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of December.
Inaugural Social Justice Champion Carmelo Anthony announced Adebayo as the winner during pregame of Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock. In addition to Anthony, previous NBA Social Justice Champion award winners include Reggie Bullock, Stephen Curry, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jrue Holiday.
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