"Stephen Curry Named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award Winner for His Commitment to Equality"

NBA champion and two-time MVP Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors has been named the winner of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award. The award honors the player who "best embodies Abdul-Jabbar's message of civil rights, Black empowerment and racial equality," according to the NBA.

Curry's advocacy for voting rights, gender and racial equity in sports, and food scarcity in underserved communities was the basis for his selection. Curry is a co-chair of Michelle Obama's "When We All Vote" initiative and a participant in the league's and player union's joint social justice-focused coalition. He has also provided scholarships for high school athletes and committed $6 million to fund Howard University's men's and women's golf teams.

"As an athlete, I consistently leverage my platform to amplify advocacy and address the pervasive issue of systemic racism," said Curry. "I firmly believe that we must be vocal both on social media and in real life, taking tangible actions to effect real change in our society and for generations to come."