LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal and more: 5 NBA players who have off-court awards
NBA players are highly esteemed members of the community and have the ability to influence millions of people due to their popularity and achievements.
Almost every superstar in the league has used his platform to educate people about social injustices and spread awareness about the issues plaguing our world. Be it climate change, racism, voting, women's empowerment, or anything else, NBA athletes ensure they guide their followers on the right path.
Many of these players have been champions of social justice reform since the league's inception. Vanguards like Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James and many more have influenced millions of people. They have also brought about change in their communities.
These inspiring athletes are recognized and often rewarded for their work off the court.
In addition to social justice reform, NBA players have also used their wide reach and global platform to try new ventures. They are some of the highest-paid players in the world and almost every NBA star has interests away from the court.
Damian Lillard, Shaquille O'Neal and many others have music careers, while some have ventured into Hollywood. Another group of players have authored novels or entered politics and business.
The late great Kobe Bryant had an illustrious 20-year career in the NBA. He won five titles, two Finals MVP awards and 18 All-Star selections, among other accolades. The "Black Mamba" also won an Academy Award for his short film "Dear Basketball," an honor reserved for the best in the film industry.
Many NBA players have hoisted trophies unrelated to basketball. So let's take a look at five such stars.
Note: This list is not ranked.
#1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
![Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with the LA Lakers [Source: InsideHook]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/10/6ab62-16671556818003-1920.jpg?w=500)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the most influential athletes of his era.
Off the court, he accepted a position as a cultural ambassador when Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State in 2012. Abdul-Jabbar has been at the forefront of social justice reform ever since he played in the NBA in the 1970s and '80s.
His actions on that front have been so pronounced that the Social Justice Champion award handed out by the NBA is named after him.
Introducing an honor fit for an icon: The NBA's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award https://t.co/TKKpRWBBFM
In 2011, he was awarded the Double Helix Medal by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) for raising awareness for cancer research. He also has an honorary degree from the New York Institute of Technology for his work in philanthropy.
Additionally, Abdul-Jabbar has a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, given to the best in television. He was nominated for the category of Outstanding Narrator in 2020 for his work in "Black Patriots: Heroes of the Civil War," on the History network.
The former LA Lakers superstar didn't win the award, which went to none other than former US President Barack Obama.
Most importantly, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was awarded the medal by then-President Obama in 2016.
#2 LeBron James
Just as great as he is on the court, LeBron James is a role model off of it as well. He has always supported his players, family and friends and given back to the community.
We all know that his list of NBA accolades can fill pages, but not many are aware of his stellar resume off the court. James' I Promise school and the LeBron James Family Foundation have brought him plenty of recognition due to their work in the community.
James won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2017. This is an award given to any member of the NBA - a player, coach, executive or staffer - who displays "outstanding service and dedication to the community." He has also won the NBA Community Assist Award five times in the monthly category.
.@KingJames discusses playing on Kobe Bryant Day and calls for social justice after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. https://t.co/nxJRe90PmS
Additionally, he won two Sports Emmy Awards, given to television projects related to sports. He won his first-ever Sports Emmy in 2020 in the Outstanding Long Sports Documentary category for the movie "What's My Name? – Muhammed Ali Part 1." James was an executive producer for the film.
He won his second award in 2021 for his HBO show "The Shop: Uninterrupted."
LeBron James on the advice he would tell himself early on in his career in regards to social justice, and what he has learned since. https://t.co/F8y2pEiRcm
LeBron James also received the Jackie Robinson Sports Award in 2017. It is an award given to athletes by the NAACP (National Association for Advancement of Colored People) for "promoted social justice through creative endeavors." He received the President's Award in 2021 given by the NAACP as well.
James has several other accolades to his name such as TIME Magazine Athlete of the Year, Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year and several ESPY awards.
#3 Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson, one of the greatest athletes and businessmen of all-time, has a long history of philanthropy.
He founded the Magic Johnson Foundation in 1991 and has dedicated his life to improving the lives of people in Los Angeles. His foundation, also known as "Do Good LA," focuses on the education and welfare of disabled people, LGBTQ+ rights, elderly care, social justice, homelessness and much more.
Our past Freedom Award honorees are still activating change. Magic Johnson was honored in 2007 for his Magic Johnson Foundation that supports HIV/AIDS prevention and health care education in low-income communities. Get your Freedom Award ticket today at FreedomAward.org https://t.co/uPT7qU5sdO
In 1992, the NAACP awarded Johnson the Jackie Robinson Sports Award and the NBA gave him the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. In 2019, Johnson and his nemisis Larry Bird won the Lifetime Achievement Award. He also won the BET (Black Entertainment Television) Humanitarian Award in 2003.
The LA Lakers legend has also dabbled in other art forms. His AIDS prevention campaign led him to write and record "What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS" in 1992. He won the 1993 Grammy award for the song in the "Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album" category.
Today, the same category is known as "Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording."
The Grammys are earned by the best in the music industry and the five-time NBA champion is the only one on this list with that award.
#4 Steph Curry
Steph Curry has been one of the most philanthropic players in the league. His foundation "Eat. Learn. Play." has improved the lives of many children in the Bay Area and he routinely gives back to the community.
Curry has donated millions to fight malaria in third world countries alongside former President Obama. He also spread awareness about social injustices around the world through his custom sneakers.
“We knew our heart lay within the community. When it came to what we wanted to advocate for, for him, that was always education and being active. For me it was always food and childhood hunger.” @ayeshacurry + @StephenCurry30 @TandCmag Philanthropy Issue.
townandcountrymag.com/society/money-… https://t.co/PPCik7xEuw
Curry won a monthly and yearly NBA Community Assist Award apiece. These are given out to players who have been active in community engagement, philanthropy and charity work.
Additionally, just like James and Johnson, Curry was awarded the Jackie Robinson Sports Award in 2021 by the NAACP for his work promoting social justice. He was also the recipient of the Jefferson Award in 2011, given out by the American Institute for Public Service for Outstanding Public Service in Professional Sports.
Moreover, the Golden State Warriors legend is also an Oscar winner. He won the Academy Award in 2022 in the "Best Documentary Short Film" category as an executive producer for the movie "The Queen of Basketball."
He also has a 2019 Teen Choice Award for Best Male Athlete. Although it technically isn't an off-the-court award, it is won by teenage votes and is more about entertainment than basketball excellence.
QUEEN OF BASKETBALL has won the #OSCAR for Best Documentary Short Subject!
The documentary is about Lusia Harris, the first woman to be officially drafted by an NBA team. It was executive produced by Shaq & Steph Curry. https://t.co/cVSDOTO43Z
#5 Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal is arguably the most active retired NBA player. He has interests in various fields including music, television, gaming, martial arts, and more.
Shaq is constantly in the public eye, either as a studio analyst on TNT, as DJ Diesel or through his innumerable endorsement deals. He also has several business ventures, investments and is no stranger to philanthropy.
He won the Jefferson Award in 2018, given out by the American Institute for Public Service for Outstanding Public Service in Professional Sports. He is also the recipient of two monthly NBA Community Assist Awards.
Additionally, Shaquille O'Neal has also won a Sports Emmy Award, reserved for the best in sports television and entertainment. He won the award in 2012 in the category Outstanding Promotional Announcement for "Shaq: Get Ready" on TNT.
It's worth noting that his show "Inside the NBA on TNT" has several Emmy awards.
Lastly, the Hall of Famer also has an Oscar alongside Steph Curry. He was also an executive producer for "The Queen of Basketball" and took home the Academy Award for "Best Documentary Short Film" in 2022.