On Friday, Miami Heat cornerstone Bam Adebayo was named the NBA Social Justice Champion for the 2025-26 season. Created in May 2021, this award celebrates an active NBA player who strives for social justice and gives back to the community. The three-time All-Star will be presented with the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy for carrying on the legacy and mission of Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s life and promoting equality for the underrepresented groups.
Alongside the trophy is the NBA’s donation of $100,000 to the Bam, Books & Brotherhood Foundation. This non-profit is run by Adebayo as the board president to help single mothers and develop future opportunities for young children.
Adebayo has become the sixth player to win the award, joining Portland Trail Blazers veteran Jrue Holiday, New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns, Golden State Warriors centerpiece Stephen Curry, former NBA veteran Reggie Bullock, and Hall of Fame forward Carmelo Anthony.
Bam Adebayo Wins 2026 NBA Social Justice Champion Award
Acknowledging this award with graciousness at the press conference on Friday night, Adebayo has accepted it for not just himself but “for every voice that has gone unheard” and for all the people working behind the scenes “to create a more just and compassionate world.”
Bam Adebayo has been named the 2026 NBA Social Justice Champion 🔥
“I accept this award not just for myself, but for every voice that has gone unheard and every person working behind the scenes to create a more just and compassionate world” pic.twitter.com/Iq0HYq4kzp
— Heat Lead 🔥 (@HeatLead) May 23, 2026
He also credited his success to his mother (Marilyn Blount) and her years of hard work.
Bam Adebayo’s actions speak louder than words
Adebayo went above and beyond to give back to the Miami community, as he himself is aware of the tribulations firsthand.
The now world-renowned player comes from a humble beginning; he grew up in extreme poverty and struggled to manage even the basic necessities, which fueled the fire in him to shine the brightest in the NBA. And now, in his turn, he made his best efforts. As part of his commitment to empowering the youth, the Olympic gold medalist has (h/t NBA Communications):
- Arranged mattresses, school uniforms, and supplies for students of The SEED School of Miami.
- Funded transportation of 19,000 students that enabled them to attend the Miami Book Fair and introduced students to new opportunities and mentorship through designed experiences.
- Uplifted the underserved communities’ children by hosting over 2,000 students at his annual holiday toy drive on the Kaseya Center main court.
- Contributed to eradicating food insecurity through holiday meal distributions and supported youth development programs.
- Made a contribution of more than $563,000 for 18 social justice initiatives.
After a rough season, this is finally some good news for the Heat, Adebayo becoming the first player in the franchise to get the award.
6x All-Defensive Team Section
The Heat has got another reason to be proud of Adebayo as the player has also been selected to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team after coming in eighth-place in a 100-vote poll. Out of those 100, Adebayo received 10 first team votes and 51 second team votes.
A global media panel of 100 voters selected the 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Defensive Team.
The complete voting results ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/nzi2CGhq3T
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 22, 2026
This marks his sixth All-Defensive team selection. Though skipped over in 2024-25, Adebayo has been named to the All-Defensive Team regularly since 2020. In 2023-24, he was named to the All-Defensive First Team (and he was a Defensive Player of the Year finalist). In just six seasons, the 28-year-old already has more All-Defensive Team selections than any player in Heat history.
Miami’s Shining Star
So far, this year has been full of highlights for Adebayo. Most notably, he scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards in March, the second-highest single-game scoring total in NBA history.
Ultimately, this is uplifting news for the Heat, whose spirits have been broken after the playoff setback. Already considered the team’s on-court leader, Adebayo has indeed set an inspiring example for a roster that looks to their captain to lead them with valor. This noble recognition will further cement his position as the franchise’s shining star, making him indispensable.
© Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
