San Antonio Spurs guard and spiritual animal Patty Mills received the February NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his ongoing commitment to creating opportunities that empower Indigenous young people and advance social justice in his native Australia. Per NBA Cares’ official press release:
In February, Indigenous Basketball Australia, which was founded by Mills to provide pathways for Aboriginal Australians to play basketball, tipped off the first-ever Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL) for players age 14 and under in eight locations across Australia. The tournaments, which preserve and celebrate Indigenous cultural practices, focus on basketball development and life skills education, including mental and physical well-being as well as strengthening individual identity at a critical age.