“I’m lucky to be part of a league full of players who are equally as passionate about making a difference.
Abdul-Jabbar is a six-time NBA champion, the league’s all-time leading scorer and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
As the winner, Anthony was able to select an organization — Portland Art Museum’s Black Arts and Experiences Initiative — to receive a $100,000 contribution on his behalf.
“His contributions on the court are next level, and off the court he has dedicated his life to the fight for equality and made it his mission to drive positive change in our society.
“Giving back and working to uplift communities like the ones I grew up in has always been central for me, and everything I’ve worked to accomplish off the court has been a culmination of a lifetime of witnessing injustices and inequalities,” Anthony said.
The National Basketball Social Justice Coalition board director also has worked on social reform through the Carmelo Anthony Foundation.
Anthony’s selection for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award was determined by a selection committee composed of Abdul-Jabbar, director of The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, Dr.