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“Throughout my career, I have remained committed to supporting youth literacy initiatives” - Brook Lopez wins Bob Lanier Community Assist Award

Brook Lopez is making a difference off the court.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
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For his continued commitment to supporting youth literacy in Milwaukee, veteran big man Brook Lopez was named the Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the 2022-23 season.

The sweet-shooting center of the Milwaukee Bucks copped the season-culminating honor as determined by an NBA executive panel and a 12-day fan voting period on Jebbit.

Lopez was selected among a pool of six other monthly Community Assist Award winners and three additional nominees selected by the NBA for their outstanding work in the community. Lopez is also the recipient of the March NBA Cares Community Assist Award.

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Making a difference in the community

According to the NBA, Lopez has made it his mission to make reading both fun and accessible since joining the Bucks in 2018.

Throughout the season, Lopez contributed roughly $235,000 for books and funding in support of literacy initiatives within Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“Lopez’s efforts are paramount in a state where only 39% percent of eighth-grade students are proficient or above in reading, and more specifically, within Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) where only 15% of fourth- and eighth-grade students are proficient or above in reading,” the league said in a statement.

The Bob Lanier Community Assist Award honors one player’s sustained efforts and difference-making work within their community over the course of the season.

As part of Lopez’s “Blocks for Books” program, Lopez donates $500 to Next Door for every block he records during the regular season in support of early childhood literacy.

This season, Lopez donated $96,500 to Next Door as part of the program. Additionally, for the second consecutive year, Lopez partnered with Scholastic Book Fair to bring book fairs to five Milwaukee Public Schools.

A staunch advocate of youth literacy

All five schools selected – Allen-Field, Bryant, Hayes Bilingual, Kilbourn, and Pratt – are Title 1 schools that have never had a Scholastic Book Fair.

Lopez’s contributions allowed each student at all five schools to select and keep five books, totaling close to 10,000 books for more than 2,000 students and roughly $75,000.

Lopez also ensured that the schools were set up to receive Scholastic Dollars so they can purchase new books for the school libraries.

“Reading is a personal passion of mine that brings me joy and has played a key role in my success,” said Lopez.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.