NBA award season has slowly been taking place over the NBA Playoffs, with all major individual player awards already being handed out. However, we are still yet to find out the results of the All-NBA teams and hadn’t been told who the winner of the ‘Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award’ is.
The same was handed out to Reggie Bullock of the Dallas Mavericks prior to Game 3 between Dallas and the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Bullock received the award after practice with the Mavericks, with Kareem himself handing the award out over a video call.
What a moment.@kaj33 congratulates @ReggieBullock35 on winning the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #SocialJusticeChampion award!
(via @dallasmavs)pic.twitter.com/0A84FDGud9
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2022
“Reggie, it is my Honor to let you know that you’re the winner of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award. I think it’s very appropriate that you get this award. We, the members of the selection committee, were astounded by all the work you’ve done for the LGBTQ community there in Dallas. You’ve been visible and you’ve made a difference and that’s the reason why you’re winning this award. I just want to say congratulations and keep up the good work.”
Bullock has been a very staunch advocate for LGTBQ+ rights, equality, and safety throughout his career. Reggie is in his 10th season and has consistently worked towards the cause for the last 8 years after his sister, Mia Henderson, was murdered in 2014. Henderson was a transgender woman and Bullock has been working towards building a safer community for other members of the LGBTQ+ community in Dallas, a team he joined this off-season.
He has been fighting a lot of battles off the court, but now has to contend with battling the Golden State Warriors on the court in Game 3 at Dallas. The game is already underway and the Mavs currently lead 33-41 with 5 minutes left in the second quarter.
