
Celtics guard Jrue Holiday named NBA Social Justice Champion
It marks another honor for the veteran, who
Advertisement
The JLH Fund was established after Holiday pledged the remainder of his 2020 NBA salary — $5 million — to combat systemic racism and economic injustice. It has distributed more than $5.3 million in grants and delivered more than 400 hours of coaching and support to nearly 200 businesses across the US.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
'Since entering the league, Jrue Holiday has dedicated himself to helping others in their times of greatest need and pursuing a more just society for all,' said NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum. 'The selflessness that defines his game is even more evident in the work he and his wife, Lauren, do off the floor to create more opportunities for a generation of youth who might have otherwise been overlooked.'
Through the JLH Fund, the Holidays launched the Boston Creator Incubator + Accelerator in partnership with
Related
:
Advertisement
Previous Social Justice Champion award winners include Carmelo Anthony, Reggie Bullock, Stephen Curry, and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Follow Andrew Mahoney
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Australian Alex Toohey reveals how the NBL prepared him for the 2025 NBA draft
Australian Alex Toohey reveals how the NBL prepared him for the 2025 NBA draft Alex Toohey played two years in the National Basketball League, and the Australian believes that time with the Sydney Kings helped prepare him for the 2025 NBA draft. Toohey averaged 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 assists on 30.2% shooting from 3-point range in 30 appearances with the Kings. He was rewarded with the NBL Next Generation Award, given to the top player under the age of 25. The 6-foot-8 forward signed with the Kings as part of the Next Stars program, which has also helped the likes of LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and Alexandre Sarr, among others. He is appreciative of that time, as he prepares to transition to the NBA. "I think just being a pro early, you learn those habits," Toohey said Monday after working out with the Sacramento Kings, via Sean Cunningham of KCRA-TV. "Basketball is one part of it, but everyday life is another part of it. You have a lot of time to yourself, so just making sure you're good with your time management and efficient with your body and your mind. ... I think just being able to play against grown men and be able to compete in a high-pace league." Toohey is considered a potential first-round pick because of his offensive skill set and ability to score in various ways. He also made a jump on the defensive end of the court, thanks to his instincts and 6-foot, 10 3/4-inch wingspan. The 21-year-old competed in the combine last month, averaging 12 points, five rebounds and two steals in two scrimmage games. He also recorded a 2.90-second time in the shuttle run, tied for the 16th-fastest mark among all participants this year. Toohey has also had a known workout with the Toronto Raptors this predraft cycle. He is looking to make the most of those visits and show teams he is capable of impacting games at a high level. "I think just versatility," Toohey said of what he wants to prove to teams. "Being able to play different positions, be comfortable in different situations and be a confident basketball player across the board."


Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
North Carolina great Rashad McCants dishes on the NBA Finals, Michael Jordan, Bill Belichick and more
Rashad McCants is a former McDonald's All-American who continued his basketball career at the University of North Carolina, where he established himself as one of the Tar Heels' all-time greats, winning a National Championship in 2005 and twice being named an All-American. His collegiate success led to him being selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft, 14th overall. Following an NBA career that saw him average 10 points per game between stops in Minnesota and Sacramento, McCants became the first-ever pick in Ice Cube's Big3 league. His team won the league's inaugural championship and McCants was named championship game MVP. On Monday, McCants, who previously wrote a book on the exploitation of student athletes - Plantation Eduction: The Exploitation of the Modern-Day Athlete-Student, joined OutKick exclusively on Monday to talk NBA Finals, Bill Belichick's fit at UNC, playing alongside Kevin Garnett, the NCAA Transfer Portal and more. Anthony Farris: With the NBA Finals currently tied at one game a piece between Oklahoma City and Indiana, who do you have coming out as the eventual winner and in how many games? Rashad McCants: I have Indiana in seven (games) because (head coach) Rick Carlisle's not going to allow certain things to happen where (the Pacers) don't have an opportunity to win, like you saw in Game One. I think OKC's lack of experience will have them put in situations where they'll compromise games and I think that alone will allow Indiana to creep in. And the (Indiana) fanbase can propel a new story to the front of the tabloids instead of OKC doing so by having the MVP (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander). Farris: If you're starting a team today, do you do so with SGA or Tyrese Haliburton? McCants: There's preference on what type of team you want to build. But right now, if I'm a winner, and I want a team with chemistry, I'm gonna pick Haliburton because he distributes the ball. He shares the sugar, makes sure everyone gets involved. And he's not afraid to take the last shot. That has nothing to do with Shai, it just has everything to do with the advantages of Haliburton being a team-oriented guy. Farris: You played your first two NBA seasons with Kevin Garnett on the Timberwolves. What was that experience like? McCants: My experience with him was completely different than everyone else's because I got to see the raw element of who he is in downtime when he's not wearing the mask and he's not performing. A lot of people can say through their experiences, "this is how he is," "this is how he's that." But if he hasn't let you through the door to let you see who he is, you'd see that he's just a fun dude. He likes to do everything that everyone else likes to do, but he's very competitive, very intense and very funny. So if you get past a lot of those little areas where he can scare you or intimidate you, you'll find that he's just a funny ass dude that's cool as hell… Farris: As hard a worker as everyone says? McCants: Absolutely. He understands the dynamics of details similar to Kobe. I think having Kev as my mentor and vet, felt like I had Kobe Bryant as the same type of guy. I knew they were cut from the same type of cloth, both being my heroes. It was not a drop-off at all when it came to competitiveness, details, footwork, all of those things. Farris: You played against Kobe, LeBron, Wade, Arenas, others. Who was the best you played against during your NBA career? McCants: Kobe Bryant was the best. I was a big student of his. But when it comes down to just hard to guard a chess master. (He was) like Bobby Fischer. He was just one of those guys you had to prepare two-to-three days ahead for. Outside of him, probably Vince Carter. …Just that era period. You talk about shooting guards and small forwards, from Paul Pierce to Tracy McGrady to Ray Allen to Dwyane Wade to Michael Redd, we had to see a lot of (star) guys, so it's hard to just pinpoint one or two guys. But then again, it's actually really, really easy because there was one guy that was better than all of those guys - Kobe. Farris: Switching over to college athletics, what are your thoughts on the transfer portal? Do you think it's a good thing? McCants: Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, there's just no structure to it. …I think it can be a good thing if it's done right and if kids are not entitled to just show up and do nothing and demand things. There has to be a contractual obligation. For you to get this money, you've gotta show up and go to practice, you've got to be attentive. There are things now: boundaries, restrictions. It's not just that you can make money, and you act like you're a millionaire, you don't have to come and perform. In my book I talk about performance-based requirements and academic-based requirements. If you're here for basketball, you gotta do all these things before you transfer. If you're Caleb Love and you wanna leave North Carolina and go to Arizona, alright, did you fulfill all your requirements? Farris: When you were at UNC, was Michael Jordan ever around and were there open communication lines? McCants: He came by. It was Michael Jordan so we didn't have access to him like that (laughing), but he definitely came by to practices to say hello. He'd come back and say hello to everybody and bet us to shoot from halfcourt and keep it movin. Farris: Who was winning that? McCants: Me, of course. Farris: So you beat Jordan? McCants: Well, I hit (the shot attempt) first. Farris: How are you feeling, as a Tar Heel, with A) having Bill Belichick as the school's football coach? And B) with everything that surrounds him right now?McCants: (laughing) I like Belichick a lot. I think the UNC move was a good move for him. But I think with his morale and everything around him now, (his girlfriend Jordon Hudson) and everything, it's just controversy waiting to happen. It's more pressure on him than ever before, because if he doesn't win, it's the distractions that around him and he's not really focused. And if he does win, this is maybe a little bit too easy. You came down to the college ranks to dominate. I love the fact that he's in North Carolina to give some prestige back (to the program). Mack Brown tried. It's an opportunity for him to build something. But Belichick, I just think…he's gonna be a man. He's gonna be a man and do what you wanna do. I'm not gonna tell him not to do it. You know, we all want to do it but you gotta have enough money to do it. And if you don't, you don't. Cool. But salute to Bill. He's having fun. He's living his life. Farris: One last question. Ice Cube's Big3 returns this weekend. You won a championship in the league's first season. How big of an adjustment is it going from playing 5-on-5 full court to 3-on-3 half court? McCants: When you talk about preparation for it and the half court and the difference, you play a lot harder because you can get exposed a lot quicker. There's not a lot of help (defense). With 5-on-5 you've got a lot of extra help with two extra guys on the court. You can cut the court (angles) off and kind of rest a little bit. But 3-on3, as soon as a shot goes up, somebody gets the rebound, and you can throw it to (a player at) the three point line and shoot it (immediately). So everyone's constantly running around. You have to be in (good) cardio (shape). It's not what everyone thinks it is. It's definitely harder than 5-on-5. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Nets regarded as team to watch over course of 2025 NBA offseason
Nets regarded as team to watch over course of 2025 NBA offseason The Brooklyn Nets have plenty of decisions to make this offseason given that they have five picks in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft along with the most cap space in the league. The Draft begins on June 25 and there is a possibility that free-agency could begin before that so it only makes sense that Brooklyn is regarded as one of the teams to watch this summer. "The Nets have two things no other team has this offseason: four first-round picks in June and more than $40 million in cap space," ESPN's Bobby Marks said when discussing why the Nets are one of the teams to watch. Heading into the Draft, Brooklyn has the No. 8, No. 19, No. 26, No. 27, and No. 36 overall picks, giving them the most draft capital in the event as well. "However, unlike the 2019 offseason when Durant and Kyrie Irving signed as free agents, the current roster is not championship ready, even with the addition of an All-NBA player," Marks continued. "Therefore, Brooklyn is a candidate to sign free agents to bloated contracts (similar to what the Indiana Pacers did with Bruce Brown in 2023), take back salary in exchange for draft picks and target restricted free agents with an offer sheet." One thing that has been made clear since this offseason began has been that the Nets are one of the teams that can execute a number of strategies this summer due to their draft capital and cap space. Brooklyn is still looking for the young player that can potentially be a superstar for them one day and the five draft picks give them multiple bites at that apple while the cap space ensures that they can re-sign their own free-agents and still add proven talent. However, as Marks pointed out, it seems that the one thing that Brooklyn shouldn't do is use most of their assets to go after a player like Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo or Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant due to the state of the roster. As it stands, it looks like the Nets will will bring in at least two players through the Draft and could use most of their cap space to take chances on restricted free-agents like Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, for example.