Heat big man Bam Adebayo has been named the NBA’s Social Justice Champion for the 2025/26 season and will receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trophy, the league announced on Friday evening.
Adebayo, who was also named to the All-Defensive second team on Friday, was one of five finalists for the Social Justice Champion award, which recognizes a player who promotes social justice and advances Abdul-Jabbar’s mission to “engage, empower and drive equality for communities that have been historically disadvantaged and under-resourced.” It includes a $100K charitable donation, which will go to the Bam, Books & Brotherhood Foundation.
“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,” Adebayo said in a statement put out by the Heat.
We have more on the Heat:
- Adebayo was named to the All-Defensive second team for four straight years from 2020-23 and made the first team in 2024 before being shut out in 2025. He was happy to be recognized again this spring, as Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel relays (subscription required). “It’s great to be back on the list, obviously,” Adebayo said. “You know, I feel like I do first-team things every year, but we can take what we can get. Good to be back. I feel like I got snubbed a couple times. But, like I said, it’s good to be recognized for all the hard work that I put in.” Head coach Erik Spoelstra referred to Adebayo as a “unicorn” who can defend “any scheme in this league” and switch onto any position from one through five.
- Asked about Kel’el Ware‘s long-term upside, one scout who spoke to Winderman (subscription required) offered veterans like Brook Lopez, Myles Turner, and Kristaps Porzingis as comparables, referring to the young center as a possible future All-Star. “What Ware has on all of (those veterans) is his athleticism,” the scout said. “But skill-wise, of what those players can contribute nightly, there are similarities. Ware also is a lob threat, which is similar to Porzingis.” While the Heat won’t be actively looking to move Ware this offseason, the 22-year-old isn’t expected to be off-limits in an offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Winderman adds.
- Former NBA sharpshooter Wayne Ellington, currently an assistant Spoelstra’s staff, will coach the Heat’s Summer League team this July, tweets Winderman. Ellington has been a player development coach in Miami since 2023.
- In case you missed it, the Heat granted the Bulls permission to interview veteran assistant Chris Quinn for their head coaching vacancy.