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Giannis Antetokounmpo blessed to receive NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for December

Giannis had a wonderful month providing smiles and hope across the city of Milwaukee.

Matthew Dugandzic

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Giannis Antetokounmpo prides himself as a bona fide champion on and off the court.

As such, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar is honored as the Association named him as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for December. This marks the first time in his career that Giannis captured the said award.

Milwaukee's Good Samaritan

Throughout the month of December, Giannis immersed himself in giving joy and happiness across various communities in Milwaukee.

First, Antetokounmpo invited 100 children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee to watch the movie "Wonka" and accompanied it with a special holiday shopping spree and the distribution of basic clothing, winter accessories, household items, and food packs. He then followed the event by hosting seven youths from Make-A-Wish Wisconsin and three families coming from Greece, allowing them to meet him, participate in a one-day team practice, and be gifted with plenty of signed basketball merchandise.

Giannis and his family marked their third annual Christmas event in which 300 foster families were called in celebration of the holidays. Kids were able to savor an evening enjoying themselves with balloon artists, face painting, dance parties, and other games and crafts. Meanwhile, the foster parents were also involved by visiting holiday gift shops to pick up gifts for their children.

To add up his wonderful December of charitable works, Antetokounmpo and his family led the conducting of Season of Giving by serving Thanksgiving dinner amongst 86 men living in shelters at Guest House Milwaukee. Giannis fully provided the catered meals and dinners for residents and even gave them new blankets and socks in preparation for the city's winter season.

Before the Bucks' Saturday showcase against the New Orleans Pelicans, Giannis received the David Robinson trophy for the Community Assist Award. The league also donated $10,000 to his charity of choice, which is the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation.

Thankful and blessed

In the postgame of their eventual victory against the Pels, Giannis was all smiles about winning the award. He gave his warmest gratitude to his family and the communities that participated in his off-court endeavors.

"It means more than the other ones," he said. "It's special. I want to thank everybody that helped me organize all the events and make this happen. I want to thank Mariah, her sister, Maya. She's not going to like that, but I want to thank her. All the people in Milwaukee that came together and helped organize the whole thing and allowed the families to have a good time. I couldn't do it without them. This award is not just me, it's so many people that put their effort behind."

The Bucks great also highlighted that the Community Assist Award holds heavier weight and significance from his standpoint as this wholeheartedly drew the admiration and regard of his mother.

"It felt good," he added. "I've won a lot of awards, but this is the only award that my mom texted me: 'You know, good job, son.' So it means more."

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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.