To kick off his 78th birthday, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got a shoutout not just from fans but from another Lakers great—Magic Johnson. The five-time champ lit up X with a tribute that hit different. “Happy birthday to the Captain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar! If you combine three high school, three college, and six NBA championships, he is the most decorated basketball player of all time,” Magic wrote. And honestly, he’s not wrong.

But then again, the birthday boy had more on his mind than just his trophy shelf. As he turned 78, Kareem shifted gears toward a deeper mission. “As I reflect on turning 78 years old today, I am proud of how far our country has come toward social justice for all,” he wrote. He didn’t stop there—he’s now gearing up for a heartfelt event at UCLA, where he’ll reflect on his activism, both past and present, while spotlighting his latest book.

In fact, Kareem dropped an invite for fans to join him on May 12 at UCLA. “I hope you’ll join me at UCLA on May 12th @ 6:30pm as I share my social justice journey… while discussing my new book: We All Want to Change the World.” And just like that, the NBA decided to mark the occasion in its own way—with something special.

Naturally, the league jumped in with a tribute of its own. A post on Instagram featured Kareem alongside Stephen Curry, Carmelo Anthony, Reggie Bullock, and Karl-Anthony Towns—all past recipients of the NBA Social Justice Champion Award. “The NBA proudly honors Abdul-Jabbar through the annual NBA Social Justice Champion Award,” read the caption.

Finally, in that same clip, Kareem opened up, reflecting on the roots of his activism. “When I was in my playing career, I didn’t know if I should be as vocal as I ended up being, but after the death of Dr. King and the death of the four young girls in Birmingham, Alabama, I felt I had to do something. And I want to continue to make this practice continue to grow because we have so many amazing players that have won the award,” he said. But do you know this award is named after Kareem himself?

What’s the story behind this Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award?

It all started back in 2021 when the NBA decided to take a big step off the court. That year, the league introduced the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award—a yearly honor created to spotlight current players who go above and beyond in pushing for social justice. The idea? To uphold values, the NBA says it’s always stood for—equality, respect, and inclusion—while giving a nod to one of the most outspoken legends in the game.

But there’s more to it than just the title. The player who wins this award doesn’t just get a pat on the back. He also gets the chance to make real impact. The winner picks an organization that’ll receive a $100,000 donation, all in his name. Meanwhile, the four other finalists get to do the same—each sending $25,000 to a cause close to their hearts.

As for Kareem, he’s all in on what the award stands for. “I’m honored and grateful to be associated with this award… it’s another giant step in the right direction,” he said. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also chimed in, adding, “We are proud to recognize and celebrate NBA players who are using their influence to make an impact.”

So how does a player even land this honor? Each of the 30 teams nominates one player from their squad. From there, a mix of NBA legends, execs, and social justice leaders pick the finalists—and eventually, the winner.