Milwaukee Bucks' Jrue Holiday is a finalist for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award

Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday was already named the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year by players from around the NBA, making him the first player to win the award twice. Now, Holiday is a two-time finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award.

The award was created at the start of last season in honor of the Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers legend to recognize a player for “pursuing social justice and advancing Abdul-Jabbar’s life mission to engage, empower and drive equality for individuals and groups who have been historically marginalized or systemically disadvantaged.”

Holiday is one of five finalists, along with Memphis’ Jaren Jackson, Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Toronto’s Fred VanVleet and Dallas’ Reggie Bullock.

The winner will be announced before Game 3 of the Western Conference finals on Sunday. He will receive $100,000 from the NBA to direct to a social justice organization of his choosing, along with a trophy.

The NBA will donate $25,000 to social justice organizations on behalf of the other finalists also.

Holiday selected Urban Underground, located at 2342 N. 27th St., as his organization.

The organization is providing students a six-week summer internship that focuses on “college visits, career exploration and service projects” through field trips and other activities.

According to its website, Urban Underground’s mission is to “promote a new generation of young leaders committed to building safe and sustainable communities…through effective programs, strategic partnerships and youth-led social change in the areas of health, education, public safety and juvenile justice.”

In naming him a finalist for the award, the NBA cited Holiday’s voting rights advocacy in Milwaukee and Wisconsin and his work with New York-based FundBlackFounders to provide grants as well as a third round of grant funding for businesses in Milwaukee, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Los Angeles through the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund.