History

NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award Winners

Take a look back at every J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship award winner in NBA history.

> NBA History: Awards


A year-by-year list of the NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winners. The honor, named after the NBA’s second commissioner, is presented annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA) to a player, coach or athletic trainer who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community.

2022-23 – Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

2021-22 – N/A (pandemic)

2020-21 – N/A (pandemic)

2019-20 — Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers

2018-19 — Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

2017-18 — J.J. Barea, Dallas Mavericks

2016-17 — LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

2015-16 — Wayne Ellington, Brooklyn Nets

2014-15 — Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

2013-14 — Luol Deng, Cleveland Cavaliers

2012-13 — Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets

2011-12 — Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers

2010-11 — Ron Artest, Los Angeles Lakers

2009-10 — Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia 76ers

2008-09 — Dikembe Mutombo, Houston Rockets

2007-08 — Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons

2006-07 — Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns

2005-06 — Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves

2004-05 — Eric Snow, Cleveland Cavaliers

2003-04 — Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers

2002-03 — David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs

2001-02 — Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat

2000-01 — Dikembe Mutombo, Philadelphia 76ers

1999-00 — Vlade Divac, Sacramento Kings

1998-99 — Brian Grant, Portland Trail Blazers

1997-98 — Steve Smith, Atlanta Hawks

1996-97 — P.J. Brown, Miami Heat

1995-96 — Chris Dudley, Portland Trail Blazers

1994-95 — Joe O’Toole, Atlanta Hawks

1993-94 — Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons

1992-93 — Terry Porter, Portland Trail Blazers

1991-92 — Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers

1990-91 — Kevin Johnson, Phoenix Suns

1989-90 — Doc Rivers, Atlanta Hawks

1988-89 — Thurl Bailey, Utah Jazz

1987-88 — Alex English, Denver Nuggets

1986-87 — Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons

1985-86 — Rory Sparrow/Michael Cooper, New York Knicks/Los Angeles Lakers

1984-85 — Dan Issel, Denver Nuggets

1983-84 — Frank Layden, Utah Jazz

1982-83 — Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers

1981-82 — Kent Benson, Detroit Pistons

1980-81 — Mike Glenn, New York Knicks

1979-80 — Austin Carr, Cleveland Cavaliers

1978-79 — Calvin Murphy, Houston Rockets

1977-78 — Bob Lanier, Detroit Pistons

1976-77 — Dave Bing, Washington Bullets

1975-76 — Slick Watts, Seattle SuperSonics

1974-75 — Wes Unseld, Washington Bullets

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