CJ McCollum Named NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award Winner

The NBA today announced New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of October 2023.

The NBA today announced New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of October for his efforts in juvenile justice reform, youth engagement and education and literacy. McCollum will receive the David Robinson trophy and the NBA will donate $10,000 to Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights – a non-profit whose mission is to champion the rights and well-being of children in the juvenile justice system. The NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award recognizes a player monthly for their outstanding work in the community.

In October, McCollum joined forces with the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights and the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition (NBSJC) to participate in a visit to the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center and Travis Hill School in New Orleans, Louisiana. The visit included a comprehensive tour of the facilities dedicated to rehabilitation and education of youth in the justice system, and an engaging lunchtime session between McCollum and the youth. McCollum shared his personal journey and emphasized the importance of education and resilience in the face of adversity.

Oct 2, 2023; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) poses during Pelicans media day at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

McCollum’s visit was accompanied by Louisiana State Senator Royce Duplessis, who is a strong advocate for juvenile justice reform. Following the visit, McCollum, Sen. Duplessis and leaders from the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition (NBSJC) discussed issues youth are facing in the juvenile justice system and explored collaborative solutions to the ongoing commitment of social justice.

McCollum is committed to finding solutions to systemic inequities that contribute to the cycle of recidivism among vulnerable populations. Additionally, McCollum is dedicated to closing the education, literacy and racial wealth gaps through access to quality education for low-income students and a pathway to obtaining a post-secondary degree. By leveraging his platform as a professional basketball player, he has created greater visibility and collaboration around a critical issue impacting the New Orleans community and the nation more broadly.

Oct 17, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) dribbles against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

“When I first got to New Orleans, I recognized the tremendous opportunity I would have to impact lives and meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our community,” said McCollum. “I am grateful to win this award and to continue this work with local and national partners to provide a fair and equitable experience for justice-involved youth in New Orleans.”

McCollum will be recognized in-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner during pre-game of the Nov. 29 76ers-Pelicans game. New Orleans Pelicans Governor Gayle Benson and Vice President of Basketball Operations and Team Development Swin Cash will present him with the award.

The NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award honors Bob Lanier, an NBA League Office executive and NBA Cares Ambassador for more than 30 years. He had an enormous influence on the NBA family and young people globally, traveling the world to teach the values of the game and making a positive impact through his kindness and generosity. The legacy he built will continue to live on through the offseason NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award recognition, which honors the next generation of players’ commitment to positively impacting their community throughout the NBA season. To learn more, please visit https://communityassist.nba.com/.