Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo has become the sixth player in franchise history to win the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award.
Adebayo, who takes home the honor for his December work, joins Dwyane Wade (four times), Alonzo Mourning (twice), Lamar Odom, Shaquille O’Neal and Daequan Cook, according to the Miami Heat PR Team.
Adebayo hosted over 2,000 students at his annual holiday toy drive on the Kaseya Center main court in December where children from underserved communities enjoyed a meal before choosing from more than 36,000 toys to take home. After the event, all remaining gifts were donated to local organizations across South Florida. During the month, Adebayo flew in eight student-athletes and their chaperones from his hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina for an exclusive game-day weekend to reward them for their hard work and academic achievement. The trip included a courtside home game, jerseys, meet-and-greet, a boat ride, a panel with his HEAT teammates and a cooking class. He also flew five student-athletes that were facing significant hardships to attend a Miami home game where they were recognized by Head Coach Erik Spoelstra and HEAT President Pat Riley about what it takes to be successful. Each student-athlete also received a care package that included Jordan 1 Retros, full uniforms and other essential items. Adebayo’s foundation also surprised fans at home games with seat upgrades throughout the month.
The Edrice Adebayo Foundation mission is to change lives for single parents while also changing future chances, choices and challenges for children. The Foundation is built on the principles Bam, Books & Brotherhood and is active year-round, more information can be found at www.thebbbfoundation.org. The NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award honors NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bob Lanier, an NBA League Office executive and NBA Cares Ambassador for more than 30 years. The legacy he built will continue to live on through the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award, which recognizes the next generation of players’ commitment to positively impacting their communities throughout the NBA season.
“To me, the holidays have always been a special time of year that inspires us to give back and serve others,” said Adebayo. “It’s about spreading kindness during a season that can be difficult for a lot of people. We go big in December, but the mission of my foundation is bigger than one moment on the calendar — it’s about showing up, putting in the work, and making an impact year-round.”
Adebayo, who hold the Heat’s all-time record for double-doubles among other feats, has been in Miami since the team selected him with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2017 draft. In addition to his contributions for the Heat in the NBA, Adebayo has an extensive resume with Team USA, including winning two gold medals (2020, 2024) with the men’s national team.
The NBA and the NBPA Foundation will donate $20,000 to the Edrice Adebayo Foundation in honor of his efforts.
