Wendell Carter Jr. Named NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award January Winner

Micah Tannenbaum

02.25.2025 | 15:18 GMT+0000

– Carter Hosted Flight 34 Aviation Event, Annual Basketball Camp and Participated in Holiday Giveaways –

– NBA to Donate $10,000 to A Platform² Foundation –

NEW YORK, February 25, 2025 – The NBA today announced Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter, Jr. as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of January. Carter is being recognized for hosting a Flight 34 Aviation Event to provide Orange County Public School students with an introduction to aviation, and his 3^rd annual basketball camp in his hometown of Atlanta. Additionally, Carter participated in holiday giveaways through his A Platform² Foundation. Carter will receive the David Robinson trophy, and the NBA will donate $10,000 to A Platform² Foundation – an organization that provides youth and families with educational programs, resources and tools that impact and elevate their quality of life.

Carter held his 3^rd annual Basketball Camp with Whitefield Academy Athletic Center through his foundation. Hosted each year in Carter’s hometown of Atlanta, the camp was free of charge for more than 100 local youth, with campers receiving on court coaching and instruction from Carter. This year’s camp included educational workshops on financial literacy to help the campers learn about the importance of setting financial goals, responsible saving and credit score literacy. Each camper left the camp with a $25 starter deposit for a bank account in their name.

In partnership with L3Harris and Microsoft, Carter hosted his Flight 34 Aviation Event at the L3Harris Flight School. Flight 34 provided students from Orange County Public Schools’ Evans and Oak Ridge High School’s with an introduction to aviation through STEM challenges, flight simulators, aircraft maintenance classes and a flight with an experienced pilot. Carter and Microsoft teamed up to provide desktop simulators and aviation software to enhance the aviation programs at each school. Growing up, Carter’s passion was aviation, and currently, less than 3% of employed U.S. pilots are Black. Flight 34, named after Carter’s jersey number, aims to increase that population by fostering interest in aerospace careers among underrepresented youth.

Additionally, during the holiday season, Carter and the A Platform² Foundation teamed up with Magic guard Cole Anthony’s 50 Ways Foundation to deliver more than 400 Thanksgiving meals to families at the Rosemont Community Center. Carter and his foundation also hosted a holiday party to celebrate the academic accomplishments of 20 students from Carter Jr.’s Flight 34 Aviation program. Each student was rewarded with a dinner from Debonair Orlando, new backpacks, a Flight 34 hoodie, Bluetooth sound collars and brand-new iPads to help further their dreams of a career in STEM.

“These things are incredibly important to me. I feel like you’re not successful until you bring someone else up with you,” said Carter. “Where I’ve come from, what I’m used to, what I have seen in my life – I’m able to relate to a lot of these kids in a certain way. I want to be able to help any and every kid that I can. And for them to experience a new career path or to feel valued and recognized goes a long way. I’m proud of that work and I’m really excited to continue building this program and lifting up these kids in whatever ways possible.”

Carter will be recognized in-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner during pregame of the Cavaliers-Magic game on Feb. 25. Presenting Carter with the award will be Orlando Magic CEO, Alex Martins and President of Basketball Operations, Jeff Weltman. This is the second time this season a player from the Orlando Magic has won the monthly Community Assist Award. Magic guard Cole Anthony was recognized as the October winner.

The NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award honors Bob Lanier, an NBA League Office executive and NBA Cares Ambassador for more than 30 years. He had an enormous influence on the NBA family and young people globally, traveling the world to teach the values of the game and making a positive impact through his kindness and generosity. The legacy he built will continue to live on through the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award recognition, which honors the next generation of players’ commitment to positively impacting their community throughout the NBA season. Over the course of each NBA season, there is an offseason winner followed by seven monthly award winners. The offseason winner receives the Bob Lanier trophy, and each monthly winner receives the David Robinson trophy. The NBA also makes a donation to the charity or foundation of the player’s choice. To learn more, please visit https://communityassist.nba.com/.

NBA Teams Up with Evernorth, GirlTrek For First-Ever Total Health Walk

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02.24.2025 | 19:13 GMT+0000

NBA All-Star

Celebrating the Game: Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Day

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02.24.2025 | 19:10 GMT+0000

Jr. NBA NBA All-Star

Tuskegee, Morehouse Face Off in 2025 NBA x HBCU Classic

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02.24.2025 | 19:07 GMT+0000

NBA All-Star

Social Impact Weekend Recap: Giving Back in the Bay

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02.24.2025 | 18:59 GMT+0000

NBA All-Star

Behind-The Scenes: NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service

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02.24.2025 | 18:54 GMT+0000

NBA All-Star

NBA ALL-STAR 2025 BRINGS FIVE DAYS OF COMMUNITY IMPACT AND YOUTH BASKETBALL TO THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

Micah Tannenbaum

02.11.2025 | 22:18 GMT+0000

NBA All-Star

– NBA to Host First Total Health All-Star Walk and 17th Annual NBA Cares Day of Service –

– More Than 2,000 Local Youth to Participate in Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Basketball Programs –

– NBA HBCU Classic Presented by AT&T Includes Career Development Opportunities and HBCU Celebrations –

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2025 – NBA All-Star 2025, in collaboration with the Golden State Warriors, will deliver five days of social impact and youth basketball events in the San Francisco Bay Area, emphasizing service, wellness, inclusion and grassroots development. The NBA will impact more than 2,000 boys and girls through a series of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA basketball clinics and programming that support participation and high-quality coaching at the grassroots level. Additionally, throughout NBA All-Star 2025, the league will continue its commitment to supporting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). NBA All-Star 2025 culminates with the All-Star Game on Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT. As part of the NBA’s efforts, the league will collectively donate more than $2 million to support the Bay Area and HBCU communities.

17^th NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service

On Friday, Feb. 14, the NBA, NBPA and the Golden State Warriors will mobilize 500 volunteers – including current and former NBA & WNBA players, employees and partners – to refurbish two Bay Area elementary schools. In collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and support from NIKE, the NBA and NBPA will unveil a renovated gymnasium featuring new hoops, equipment, lighting and flooring at Bret Harte Elementary School in San Francisco. In Oakland, the NBA and NBPA will collaborate with the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation and KABOOM! to beautify the school yard and as part of the NBA Cares State Farm Assist Tracker program, renovate the library at East Oakland Pride Elementary School. Additionally, NBA volunteers will participate in a hands-on service project at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank packing meals for the 50,000 households that the food bank serves each week.

NBA Total Health All-Star Walk presented by Evernorth Health Services

The NBA will launch its new holistic health platform, NBA Total Health, with its inaugural Total Health All-Star Walk, presented by Evernorth Health Services. In partnership with San Francisco Recreation and Parks, GirlTREK and the Golden State Warriors, the walk will engage 1,000 local community members, families and All-Star guests to celebrate and bring awareness to the importance of physical, mental and community health. The walk will also feature local health and wellness resources to promote a healthy lifestyle among all ages.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Day presented by NIKE

The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA will partner with NIKE to host the 8^th annual Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Day on Friday, Feb. 14. Local elementary and middle school students from San Francisco and Oakland Unified School Districts will participate. Current and former NBA and WNBA players will join nearly a thousand youth to participate in basketball clinics that teach the fundamentals of basketball and the values of the game.

Jr. WNBA Clinic

The Jr. WNBA is the WNBA’s initiative dedicated to providing girls of all skill levels opportunities to learn, play and love the game of basketball. The Jr. WNBA clinic will feature basketball fundamentals and a panel discussion with WNBA players including members of the Golden State Valkyries aimed to help girls gain confidence, face challenges, and learn the importance of physical and mental wellness.

NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T

As previously announced, the Morehouse College and Tuskegee University men’s basketball programs from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) will compete in the fourth NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T. The HBCU Classic takes place in Oakland Arena at 2 p.m. PT on Saturday, Feb. 15, and will be broadcast on ESPN+, NBA TV and TruTV. Fans can purchase tickets to the NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T here. In addition to the game, the NBA will celebrate and support the HBCU community with a full slate of events that will be announced at a later date. The NBA and AT&T will also donate $100,000 each to Morehouse College and Tuskegee University.

NBA Foundation All-Star Pitch Competition

The NBA Foundation in collaboration with the Golden State Warriors, the Kapor Center, and Amplitude will host the finals of the All-Star Pitch Competition on Thursday, Feb. 13. Seven early-stage startups will pitch their businesses in front of a panel of judges that include Chase Koch, Chiney Ogwumike, Spenser Skates, Rebecca Quick and Angela Yee. $150,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the top three finalists. The semifinals of the Pitch competition were held in San Francisco in December 2024, with the seven finalists earning their spot to compete at NBA All-Star 2025.

NBA All-Star Game Charitable Components

As part of the State Farm® Assist Tracker Program, each assist during the NBA All-Star Game will result in a $1,900 donation split between Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco and Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland. During last year’s NBA All-Star Game, the State Farm® Assist Tracker recorded 106 assists resulting in $201,400 in donations. Additionally, the NBA will host firefighters from San Francisco, Oakland and Alameda County who traveled to Los Angeles to assist with wildfire recovery efforts and provide them with tickets to the All-Star Game. Last month, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced a $1 million donation to organizations that support those affected by the Los Angeles fires.

Make-A-Wish Experiences

The NBA will continue its longstanding partnership with Make-A-Wish Foundation and help grant seven wishes of youth throughout NBA All-Star 2025.

Additional Social Impact and Youth Basketball Events During NBA All-Star 2025 Include

NBA Hoops & Heritage: An All-Star Vendor Showcase to spotlight local small businesses and prospective vendors.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and Junior Warriors Coaches Clinic: Local youth basketball coaches will participate in a coaches’ clinic led by an NBA All-Star Head Coach featuring discussions on coaching philosophies, strategy and on court skill development.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Wheelchair Basketball Clinic: The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and Challenged Athletes Foundation will host a basketball clinic introducing individuals with physical disabilities to wheelchair basketball.

Junior Warriors x Special Olympics All-Star Showcase: Teams from the Junior Warriors program and Special Olympics Northern California will participate in a showcase of competitive games at the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA’s court space.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge: Boys and girls will compete in skills competitions focused on the fundamentals of basketball. There will be a boys’ division and a girls’ division in two different age groups.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA STEM Clinic: Participants ages 6-14 will learn about the intersection of sports and STEM and how concepts such as the scientific method, data visualization and data collection are a way to better understand the world around them, whether in a school classroom or on a basketball court.

NIKE N7 x Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Clinic: The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and NIKE N7 will host a basketball clinic for indigenous youth from the Intertribal Friendship House Bay Area.

HBCU Programming: A series of HBCU celebrations and career development opportunities in conjunction with the NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T will occur throughout NBA All-Star 2025.

National Basketball Social Justice Coalition: On Jan. 17, in the lead up to NBA All-Star 2025, the Golden State Warriors and the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition (NBSJC) hosted The Rebound: Second Chances & The Power of Basketball at Chase Center in San Francisco. The event featured a series of “on-court conversations” highlighting the NBA and Warriors’ commitment to second chances for incarcerated and justice-impacted individuals. The discussions spotlighted ongoing impact work with the Twinning Project in California State Prison Solano and the annual basketball event at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, as well as the recently released book, The Power of Basketball: NBA Players, Coaches, and Team Governors on the Fight to Make a Better America – a joint project of NBSJC and the Vera Institute of Justice.

Sustainability: As part of the league’s environmental sustainability efforts through NBA Green, the NBA and Golden State Warriors will work to minimize impacts related to energy, water, waste, and transportation. Chase Center is LEED Gold certified for building design and construction and was the first NBA arena in California to be Green Business Certified in April 2021. The arena’s comprehensive sustainability efforts in water conservation, graywater recovery, food recovery, waste diversion, and more will make a sustainable impact on NBA All-Star.

NBA events at Chase Center, Moscone Center and Oakland Arena will be powered by 100% renewable energy and reach at least an 80% waste diversion rate. In addition, NBA Green will tip off its partnership with Rewiring America through a sustainability fan activation at NBA Crossover. The activation – an electric bike competition – will educate fans on how going electric makes homes and businesses healthier, more affordable and better for the planet.

Stand Together Collaboration: The NBA will receive support from Stand Together, a philanthropic community that engages communities nationwide in acts of service. Stand Together will have 20 volunteers participate in the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service and Stand Together will amplify the NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T.

Jalen Brunson Named NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award December Winner

Micah Tannenbaum

01.24.2025 | 16:02 GMT+0000

Community Assist Award New York Knicks

– Brunson Hosted Holiday Gift Giving Events, Shopping Sprees and Fulfilled Wishes During NBA’s Season of Giving –

– NBA to Donate $10,000 to Second Round Foundation –

NEW YORK, January 24, 2025 – The NBA today announced New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of December. During the NBA’s Season of Giving, which runs from late November through December, Brunson hosted holiday gift giving events, shopping sprees and fulfilled the wishes of two children from Make-A-Wish Metro NY and Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley. Brunson will receive the David Robinson trophy, and the NBA will donate $10,000 to the Second Round Foundation – an organization that creates equity for young people through education, sport and community.

During NBA Season of Giving, Brunson and the Second Round Foundation partnered with DREAM Charter Schools to bring cheer to students during the holiday season. As a part of this effort, Brunson co-hosted two Family Dinner and Game Night events for nearly 500 DREAM students and their families. Families received food baskets with fresh produce and non-perishable food items ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. The events also promoted the Scratch Food Program, which focuses on improving school meals and encouraging healthy eating habits. Brunson and the Second Round Foundation also purchased 250 winter coats for DREAM students from Manhattan’s East Harlem and Mott Haven and Highbridge campuses in the Bronx.

Brunson along with the Garden of Dreams Foundation also hosted 20 single mothers from the Covenant House in the Bronx for a holiday shopping spree experience. Each mother received $550 in Target gift cards to purchase gifts and necessities.

The New York Knicks hosted their Garden of Dreams Night on December 5^th and invited two children from Make-A-Wish to participate. The two boys, undergoing medical challenges, had a wish to meet Brunson and attend a Knicks game. Brunson spent time with both boys and provided words of encouragement. The boys also served as an honorary Knicks Player and an honorary Knicks Coach for the game.

“I’m humbled and honored to receive the Community Assist Award for the month of December,” said Brunson. “The greatest gift the game has given me has been the ability to give back to those in need through the Second Round Foundation. This award further motivates me to serve the communities that mean so much to me and to highlight those who deserve support, regardless of their circumstances.”

Brunson will be recognized in-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner during the Kings-Knicks game on Jan. 25. New York Knicks President Leon Rose and a youth representative from the Covenant House will present him with the award.

Spurs Team Up For NBA Cares Clinic in Paris

Micah Tannenbaum

01.23.2025 | 15:52 GMT+0000

Global Games NBA Teams Paris Game San Antonio Spurs

Onyeka Okongwu Named NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award November Winner

Micah Tannenbaum

12.23.2024 | 15:01 GMT+0000

Atlanta Hakws Community Assist Award

– Okongwu Partnered with Local Organizations to Support and Encourage Others Processing Grief –

– NBA to donate $10,000 to Atlanta nonprofit Kate’s Club –

NEW YORK, December 23, 2024 – The NBA today announced Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of November. Okongwu partnered with local organizations in Atlanta to provide support and encouragement for those dealing with the loss of loved ones, in addition to donating Hawks’ merchandise, tickets and sports equipment to the community. Okongwu will receive the David Robinson trophy, and the NBA will donate $10,000 to Kate’s Club – an organization dedicated to empowering children and teens, their families and young adults following the death of a parent, sibling, caregiver, or someone important to them.

Supporting others during times of grief is personally important to Okongwu, as he’s experienced the loss of family and friends. When Okongwu was 13 years old, his older brother, Nnamdi tragically passed away from a skateboarding accident. The two brothers were extremely close, and Okongwu plays basketball in honor of his brother, who was a standout basketball player as well. During Okongwu’s second season in the NBA, his father Mike passed away, followed by the unexpected passing of his close friend Daniel the following season. Okongwu understands the emotions that a loss of a family member or friend can bring, and he is committed to supporting others who are going through something similar.

With November being Children’s Grief Awareness Month, Okongwu partnered with Visiting Nurse Health System and supported their Camp STARS (Sharing Together As Real Support), a bereavement retreat held annually in Georgia. The retreat serves campers ages 2-66 and provides the support needed to cope and honor the lives of loved ones. Okongwu drafted and shared welcome letters with each camper, recorded content sharing experience with loss and shared coping mechanisms that was shown throughout the retreat. Okongwu also provided giveaway prizes for the camp raffle.

Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, Okongwu continued his partnership with Kate’s Club and participated in their clubhouse experience with teens who have lost a loved one. Okongwu has partnered with Kate’s Club since his rookie season and supports the organization by providing tickets to Hawks’ games, sharing his story at their annual fundraising gala and making a financial contribution to help build a playground for Kate’s Club members. As part of the clubhouse experience, Okongwu participated in the welcome circle with others going through similar situations and shared his experience dealing with grief, participated in ice breakers and hosted basketball activities with the teens. Okongwu donated basketball equipment to Kate’s Club and provided Hawks’ prizes to participants.

“Losing a loved one can be hard and I know that from first-hand experience. I have been fortunate to find organizations who are doing the important work of helping people work through their grief – something that I wish I had along my journey,” said Okongwu. “It is an honor for me partner with Kate’s Club and Camp STARS in their efforts. I look forward to continuing to make an impact in this area.”

Okongwu will be recognized in-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner during the Heat-Hawks game on Dec. 28. Atlanta Hawks General Manager Landry Fields will present him with the award.