Karl-Anthony Towns wins 2024 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award

As Karl-Anthony Towns looks to not only win his first NBA championship, but Minnesota’s as a franchise, too, the Timberwolves superstar is bringing home new hardware for himself. And it’s an important honor, one that represents more than any of his on-court abilities or accomplishments.

The former Kentucky great has earned the 2023-24 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award, the NBA announced Thursday. He will be presented with the award ahead of Minnesota’s game vs. Denver in the Western Conference semifinals on Friday, the Timberwolves having a chance to go up 3-0 in the series and one win away from the conference finals.

The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award is in its fourth year with all 30 NBA teams nominating one player from their roster to be the winner. Finalists and the winner are selected by a committee composed of NBA legends, league executives and social justice leaders. A $100,000 contribution is made on the winner’s behalf by the NBA to an organization of his selection.

Towns’ choice for the donation? The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities to advance health equity.

The former Wildcat joins Carmelo Anthony (2021), Reggie Bullock (2022) and Stephen Curry (2023) as the winners of the award.

Other finalists in 2023-24 included another UK star in Bam Adebayo. He will receive $25,000 for an organization on his behalf for being a finalist.

New Kentucky coach Mark Pope congratulated Towns on his award after the news was announced Thursday.

“Massive congrats to (Karl-Anthony Towns) for winning the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy! Pretty incredible that he is a four-time (and counting) All-Star in the NBA,” Pope said. “Those incredible on-court achievements pale in comparison to what’s doing to make a difference in the world.”

Massive congrats to @KarlTowns for winning the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy!

Pretty incredible that he is a four-time (and counting) All-Star in the @NBA. Those incredible on-court achievements pale in comparison to what's doing to make a difference in the wold. https://t.co/mWwKxxke5U

— Mark Pope (@CoachMarkPope) May 9, 2024

Towns’ honor was sparked by serving as an advocate of voting rights. He played a major role in helping with the passage of Minnesota’s Restore the Vote bill, a bipartisan legislation that restored the right to vote for more than 55,000 former incarcerated individuals. The law marked the largest expansion of voting rights since the voting age in Minnesota was lowered to 18 years old.

Towns is also an executive producer and key investor in the documentary Forgiving Johnny, which details how digital transformation has aided change in the legal justice system. Furthermore, he provided funding to the film Origin and is a board member of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition.

“It is a great honor to be named the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion,” Towns said in a statement. “I am proud to have played a role in the passing of Minnesota’s Restore the Vote bill and I will always be committed to supporting social justice causes as that is part of my DNA.”

He previously earned the NBA Cares Community Assist Award in November of 2021 with sustained community outreach efforts have been focused on youth, health and wellness and social justice.

On the court, Towns is a two-time All-NBA selection and just led the Wolves to their first playoff series victory since 2014 with a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Suns — the first sweep in franchise history. He averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game for Minnesota during the regular season in 2023-24.

Representing Kentucky well both on and off the floor. Well done, KAT.