WATCH: Karl-Anthony Towns named finalist for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award

Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns was named a finalist for the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Social Justice Champion award recently. The award is named after former NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. If you want to see a few pictures of the trophy you can find them here. Below is the video the NBA released this afternoon.

A finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #SocialJusticeChampion award… Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns)!

The five finalists represent the year’s most impactful social justice advocates who are continuing NBA players’ decades-long tradition of activism. pic.twitter.com/lBwZzrXSDF

— NBA (@NBA) May 20, 2022

The winner of the award — which will be announced during the Western Conference Finals on TNT — will receive $100,000 to donate to the social justice cause of their choice. The four other finalists for the award are: Reggie Bullock (Dallas Mavericks), Jaren Jackson, Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), and Fred Van Fleet (Toronto Raptors). and Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks).

Below is the description of the trophy from NBA.com:

“Utilizing Abdul-Jabbar’s commitment to creating an equal and just society, leveling the playing field and ensuring that every child is free to dream as inspiration, the structure features a 3-D print of Abdul-Jabbar’s hands holding up these ideals in the form of a basketball-globe, which represents the impact athletes and activists can have to use their platforms and advance social justice globally.  The gold, six-sided base symbolizes harmony and balance while celebrating Abdul-Jabbar’s holistic excellence – both with his six NBA titles and many accolades outside of the game.”

Karl-Anthony Towns once again dominated during the 2021-2022 season

Towns was once again a double-double machine last season for the Timberwolves and helped guide them to a first- round playoff berth against the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s been one of the best players in the league ever since he entered it in the 2015-2016 season and last season was no different.

Towns stuffed the stat sheet with 24.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game en route to making his third NBA All-Star team. He also posterized Jaren Jackson, Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of this year’s NBA Playoffs.

He recently underwent stem cell treatment to help aid his recovery on various fronts with his knees, wrist, ankle, and finger injuries. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne tweeted on May 15: “Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns underwent stem cell treatment, platelet-rich plasma injections on knee, wrist, ankle and finger injuries.”

The former Kentucky star got the injections in the hopes of avoiding offseason surgery.