Tobias Harris has been named a finalist for the 2026 NBA Social Justice Champion award. He is joined by Bam Adebayo, Harrison Barnes, Jaylen Brown, and Larry Nance Jr. as finalists. The NBA made the announcement on Thursday.
The annual award honours a current NBA player for pursuing social justice. The winner 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.
Selection Committee and Award Details
The NBA Social Justice Champion will receive a $100,000 donation from the NBA for a non-profit organisation of his choosing. NBA teams submitted nominations to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion selection committee to determine the finalists. This year saw the introduction of a new selection committee.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum are on the committee. New members include Realize The Dream Co-Founders, Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, and GirlTREK Co-Founder and President Vanessa Garrison. The committee also includes National Museum of African American History & Culture Acting Director Shanita Brackett, and 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. are also new members.
Bam Adebayo’s Social Justice Efforts
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. He led 18 social justice-focused initiatives during the 2025-26 season through the Bam Adebayo Foundation. Adebayo invested 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. He also 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. Adebayo 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.
The NBA Social Justice Champion will be announced during the Conference Finals of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.