Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo has been named the recipient of the NBA’s Social Justice Champion Award for the 2025-26 season. He earns the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy and a $100,000 charitable donation made in his name by the league.
The award recognizes Adebayo’s ongoing commitment to social justice initiatives. Mainly on those focused on educational equity, food givebacks, and youth development in underserved communities in South Florida and his home state of North Carolina.
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• Foundation Impact: The Bam Adebayo Foundation invested more than $563,000 this season across 18 different initiatives. Bam continues to use his platform to give back in meaningful, tangible ways to communities that need it most.
• Education and Access: 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, helping remove barriers to educational opportunities.
• Youth Development and Joy: He hosted a massive holiday toy drive that served more than 2,000 children. The leftover toys covered the court at the Kaseya Center before being distributed to additional organizations. Bam also supported various youth development programs and renovated a basketball court at Camillus House Homeless Shelter in Miami.
• The Award: Adebayo is the sixth player to win the Social Justice Champion Award, following Jrue Holiday (2025), Karl-Anthony Towns (2024), Stephen Curry (2023), Reggie Bullock (2022), and Carmelo Anthony (2021). He beat out finalists Harrison Barnes, Jaylen Brown, Tobias Harris, and Larry Nance Jr.
Adebayo has always been about more than basketball. He puts up monster numbers on the court — including that historic 83-point game this season. He also knows it’s important to give back and he’s making just as big an impact off the court as he is on it. Growing up knowing what it’s like to have very little, Adebayo is determined to make sure the next generation has more opportunities than he did.
Congrats to Bam on the recognition. Heat Nation knows he’s been putting in the work — on and off the floor.
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