Boston Celtics veteran forward Jaylen Brown has been awarded the 2019-20 End-of-Season NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente, according to a press release circulated by the league.
Brown, along with the Sacramento Kings’ Harrison Barnes, Milwaukee Bucks’ George Hill, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chris Paul and Dallas Mavericks’ Dwight Powell, were awarded the honor “in recognition of their continued commitment to positively impacting their communities through sustained efforts over the course of the season,” per the NBA.
“This year’s end-of-season award recognizes five players whose exemplary work advanced social justice and provided COVID-19 relief and support,” the league explained further.
“The five recipients made concerted efforts throughout the 2019-20 season … to leverage their platforms and voices to engage, empower and support different communities amidst the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic and social justice movement following continued incidents of racialized violence against Black men and women. Each winning player will receive $10,000 to their charity of choice, a donation from the NBA and Kaiser Permanente.”
Brown was so honored for his “leadership in Boston and Atlanta and throughout the hiatus and restart, organizing action and advocating for racial and educational equity.”
Grading the Boston Celtics’ 2019-20 season by player, part 1: rookies https://t.co/c2s8B1ItgF
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 5, 2020
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Georgia native has been taking a leadership role in the league on a wide range of issues, and the series of crises faced by the league and the US since has only magnified his leadership skills.
“Following the killing of George Floyd, Brown drove 15 hours to his native Atlanta and organized a peaceful march on May 30. Brown’s impassioned advocacy towards social justice inspired the Boston Celtics United for Social Justice campaign, a multi-focus commitment to addressing racial injustice and social inequities in the greater Boston area. In response to the pandemic, Brown made a significant contribution to the Boston Resiliency Fund, a city-led effort to assist communities most impacted by the pandemic.”
“His generous donation provided meals for senior citizens and families most in need, new technology for students as they transitioned to remote learning as well as continued support for first responders,” noted the league.
Ainge: Jaylen Brown 'ready to take on bigger roles' in 2020-21 https://t.co/FoiMfDOaed via @thecelticswire
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 2, 2020
Brown chose his 7uice Foundation to receive the award’s $10,000 donation, which is “dedicated to positively affecting the lives of “at risk” children and young adults through educational, athletic and social programs.”
True to form, upon hearing he’d won the award, Brown replied “There is so much more work to be done.”
And knowing the Cal-Berkeley product, he’s probably already got a plan in place to do it.
[jwplayer 4TvqYWo8]
[lawrence-related id=42365,42362,42345,42353]