J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award

The J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given to a player, coach, or staff member who showed "outstanding service and dedication to the community.

[2] The award was named in honor of James Walter Kennedy, the second commissioner (then president)[a] of the NBA.

For example, Kevin Garnett received the award for the 2005–06 season after donating $1.2 million toward the Hurricane Katrina's relief efforts.

J. J. Barea, the 2018 winner, was born in Puerto Rico, a territory whose native-born residents are U.S. citizens by birth.

[5] Frank Layden and Joe O'Toole were the only non-players to win the award.

Dikembe Mutombo speaking to the press
Dikembe Mutombo is the only person to have won the award twice.
head shot of Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson won the award in the 1991–92 NBA season.
LeBron James smiling
LeBron James won the award in the 2016–17 season.
Stephen Curry won the award in the 2022–23 season.