Karl-Anthony Towns named NBA’s Social Justice Champion

KAT talks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award, Nuggets Game 3

Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns talked Thursday about getting the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award and facing the Nuggets in Game 3 Friday night.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns has been named the NBA’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion for the 2023-24 season.

The annual award, which started in 2021, honors a current NBA player for pursuing social justice and upholding the league’s values of equality, respect and inclusion.

"It means a lot. To have a name like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar be on an award and to be receiving that award, it means a lot. I just try to continue to spread love. I want to leave the world a better place than when I came into it," Towns said after practice Thursday.

Towns has worked in Minnesota with the "Restore the Vote" Bill, which allows people previously in prison to vote alongside eligible Minnesotans. Towns also holds an annual coat drive to make sure kids in the Twin Cities don’t go cold during Minnesota’s winter months. Towns has worked extensively with the Boys & Girls Clubs, is a team ambassador for Pride Night and has worked extensively on social justice issues in the Twin Cities since the death of George Floyd. He was a finalist for the award in 2022.

By earning the award, a $100,000 donation will be made to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities on Towns’ behalf.