During his first full season with the Golden State Warriors, Juan Toscano-Anderson quickly became a fan favorite at San Francisco’s Chase Center.
After averaging 5.7 points on 57.9% shooting from the floor with 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 53 games, Toscano-Anderson’s two-way contract was converted to a full-time NBA deal at the end of the regular season.
Following the end of the 2020-21 NBA campaign, the Oakland native is being recognized for his work off the floor.
The NBA recently announced the finalists for the inaugural Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award. Toscano-Anderson joined Portland’s Carmelo Anthony, Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes, Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris and Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday have been named as finalists for the award.
The award recognizes a current player for “pursuing social justice and advancing Abdul-Jabbar’s life mission to engage, empower and drive equality for individuals and groups who have been historically marginalized or systemically disadvantaged.”
Via @NBA on Twitter:
Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony), Harrison Barnes (@hbarnes), Tobias Harris (@tobias31), Jrue Holiday (@Jrue_Holiday11) and Juan Toscano-Anderson (@juanonjuan10) have been selected as the five finalists for the inaugural Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #SocialJusticeChampion Award. pic.twitter.com/XbXDBlS4v6
— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2021
Via @warriors on Twitter:
Juan Toscano-Anderson has been named a finalist for the NBA’s inaugural Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #SocialJusticeChampion award.
The award recognizes a current player for pursuing social justice and for driving equality for individuals & groups who've been historically marginalized. pic.twitter.com/ZJ3DjRim6Q
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 11, 2021
"To be mentioned in the same breath as Kareem is incredibly humbling."@juanonjuan10 on being named a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #SocialJusticeChampion award.
The winner of this year’s award will be named prior to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. https://t.co/o65KpZUfuc pic.twitter.com/6wpOIenBO9
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 11, 2021
In June of 2020, Toscano-Anderson organized and led a pair of “Walk in Unity” marches through the streets of downtown Oakland to protest oppression, social injustice and police brutality. Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and other members of the Golden State Warriors joined Toscano-Anderson at the different marches in the Bay Area.
Toscano-Anderson also leads his “Journey to Achieve Foundation,” focusing on the empowerment of Latino and Black families in the Bay Area, Santa Cruz and Mexico.
The winner of the award will receive a $100,000 contribution on their behalf to an organization of their choice. Toscano-Anderson has selected “Homies Empowerment,” a community development organization based out of Oakland as his recipient of the NBA’s donation.
Prior to game four of the Eastern Conference Finals on TNT, the winner for the inaugural award will be announced.
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