NBA names social justice award after basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The NBA is naming a new social justice award after basketball legend and longtime activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the league announced Thursday. The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Award will recognize a current NBA player for pursuing social justice and upholding the league's "values of equality, respect and inclusion."

Each team will nominate one player and a selection committee led by Abdul-Jabbar will meet once a year to choose five finalists, the league said. The winner will pick an organization to receive a $100,000 contribution and the other four will choose an organization to receive $25,000. The inaugural winner and finalists will be announced later this year. Abdul-Jabbar, a six-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer, is well-known for his social justice work over the years. In a statement, Commissioner Adam Silver said Abdul-Jabar "devoted much of his life to advocating for equality and social justice."