Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday was named the 2024-25 NBA Social Justice Champion on Wednesday.
He will receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy and a $100,000 donation from the league for his foundation.
Holiday, who won the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award for the second time last week, was one of five finalists selected for “pursuing social justice and advancing Abdul-Jabbar’s life mission to engage, empower and drive equality for individuals and groups who have been historically disadvantaged,” according to a league statement.
The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund has distributed $5.3 million in grants and delivered more than 400 hours of coaching and support to nearly 200 businesses across the U.S.
“Since entering the league, Jrue Holiday has dedicated himself to helping others in their times of greatest need and pursuing a more just society for all,” NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum said. “The selflessness that defines his game is even more evident in the work he and his wife Lauren do off the floor to create more opportunities for a generation of youth who might have otherwise been overlooked.”
The JLH Fund was established when Holiday pledged $5 million of his 2020 NBA salary to combat systemic racism and economic injustice.
Holiday, 34, joins previous winners Carmelo Anthony, Reggie Bullock, Stephen Curry and Karl-Anthony Towns.
The other finalists were Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, Harrison Barnes of the San Antonio Spurs, Chris Boucher of the Toronto Raptors and CJ McCollum of the New Orleans Pelicans.
