OKC's Westbrook wins Community Assist Award
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook has won the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for the 2014-15 season.
Westbrook, who is representing the Thunder at the NBA draft lottery in New York, was formally announced as the winner on Tuesday. Westbrook was presented with the David Robinson Plaque during a presentation at the lottery.
Kaiser Permanente and the NBA will also donate $25,000 to Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation, which was launched in 2012 working to help children facing hardships of any kind, supporting community-based education and family service programs.
During the 2014-15 season, Westbrook and his Why Not? Foundation opened new reading centers called “Russell’s Reading Room” in three Oklahoma City public schools, providing 1,200 new books. Westbrook also presented a local Oklahoma City single mother of two children with the new Kia car he won as the 2015 All-Star Game MVP.
Westbrook, who finished fourth in this season’s MVP voting and won the scoring title, had said during the season the award he had his eye on most was the Community Assist. The award was voted on by fans and an NBA panel of judges, including past J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winners. Westbrook joins past winners Pau Gasol, Dwyane Wade and Stephen Curry.
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