NEW YORK – The NBA today announced that Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Harrison Barnes (San Antonio Spurs), Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), Tobias Harris (Detroit Pistons) and Larry Nance Jr. (Cleveland Cavaliers) have been selected as the five finalists for the 2026 NBA Social Justice Champion award.  The annual award honors a current NBA player for pursuing social justice and will receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trophy for 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 Conference Finals of the 2026 NBA Playoffs and receive a $100,000 donation from the NBA for a non-profit organization of his choosing.

The finalists were determined from a pool of nominees submitted by NBA teams to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion selection committee, comprised of social justice leaders and members of the NBA family.  This year marks the introduction of a new selection committee following five years of outstanding service and thoughtful stewardship by the award’s previous committee members, who helped establish and elevate the award’s impact.  This year’s committee is comprised of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum and new members – 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 (NBPA) Executive Director Erika Swilley and Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Court of Leaders and Class of 2027 high school basketball player Cayden Daughtry Jr.

Below is more information on the finalists and their efforts.

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Bam Adebayo has continued to make a lasting impact through his commitment to educational equity, food security and youth development in underserved communities across South Florida and North Carolina. Through the Bam Adebayo Foundation, he led 18 social justice-focused initiatives during the 2025-26 season, investing more than $563,000 into programs designed to expand access and opportunity for underserved youth and families. Adebayo provided mattresses, uniforms and school supplies for students at The SEED School of Miami, funded transportation for more than 19,000 students to attend the Miami Book Fair and hosted experiences designed to expose students to new opportunities and mentorship. He also addressed food insecurity through large-scale holiday meal distributions, hosted an annual toy drive serving more than 2,000 children, and continued to support youth development programs including his Bam Basketball Camp and the Liberty City Warriors program. Additionally, Adebayo donated a renovated Miami HEAT-themed basketball court at Camillus House Homeless Shelter to create a permanent space for recreation and wellness for residents in the community.

Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs
Harrison Barnes has continued his longstanding commitment to educational equity, economic opportunity and youth development through sustained investments in underserved communities across San Antonio and beyond. During the 2025-26 season, Barnes committed $150,000 to 10 San Antonio nonprofit organizations supporting mental health, housing stability, civic engagement and economic empowerment, while also making the largest single contribution in the history of the San Antonio MLK Commission Scholarship Program with a $50,000 donation to support graduating seniors pursuing higher education. Barnes additionally addressed food insecurity by providing groceries and gift cards to nearly 200 families on San Antonio’s East Side and expanded access to safe community spaces through a multi-city court refurbishment initiative in San Antonio, Austin and Saltillo, Mexico. As an inaugural NBA Foundation Board member, Barnes also continues to support national efforts focused on economic opportunity and career advancement for underserved communities.

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Jaylen Brown has continued to advance economic equity and educational access through investments focused on entrepreneurship, ownership and workforce development opportunities for Black and Brown communities. Through Boston XChange and the Boston Creator Accelerator, which Brown co-founded in partnership with the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Fund, Brown helped establish a $2.5 million capital pool supporting minority-owned businesses through funding, mentorship and institutional partnerships, while also personally investing in cohort companies to reinforce their long-term sustainability. Brown additionally remained deeply involved in his 7uice Foundation Bridge Program, which provides mentorship, STEAM exposure, college readiness and workforce placement opportunities for students nationwide. During the 2025-26 season, 100 percent of Bridge participants were accepted to every college and university to which they applied, as the program continued expanding nationally to broaden access and opportunity for underserved students.

 Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons
Tobias Harris has focused his social justice efforts on advancing economic equity and expanding access to affordable homeownership opportunities for working-class families. Through the Tobias Harris Homeownership Initiative (THHI), Harris developed an innovative shared-appreciation mortgage model designed to address structural barriers to homeownership by reducing upfront costs and lowering monthly payments for qualified first-time homebuyers in Detroit neighborhoods. Harris invested more than $1 million into the initiative’s pilot program and worked closely with public, private and philanthropic partners to help create sustainable pathways to long-term wealth creation and housing stability. Beyond Detroit, Harris is also involved in the development of more than 560 affordable housing units across five projects in Los Angeles, reinforcing his broader commitment to housing affordability and economic justice. Additionally, as a founding NBA Foundation Board member, Harris continues to support national efforts focused on economic opportunity and career advancement for underserved communities.

Larry Nance Jr., Cleveland Cavaliers
Larry Nance Jr. has consistently used his platform to advocate for immigrant justice, healthcare equity, education access and support for underserved families and communities. Throughout the 2025-26 season, Nance Jr. leveraged the visibility of his pregame walk-ins to raise awareness around social justice issues, including immigrant advocacy and support for women in sports. He also supported vulnerable families by donating gifts and essential supplies to residents at The Haven Home, which serves pregnant and parenting women experiencing homelessness, and contributed $15,000 to Cleveland Clinic digestive health research through his work with Athletes vs. Crohn’s & Colitis. In support of educational and arts equity, Nance Jr. established the Elevating Possibility Scholarship for high school seniors excelling in arts or athletics and partnered with Swensons in Akron to raise funds and collect supplies for Akron Public Schools, personally matching every dollar raised. As a member of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition Board, Nance Jr. also continues to help advance the NBA’s social justice priorities and leadership development initiatives.