Wizards' Kyle Kuzma named NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award November winner

Earlier this month, the Kyle Kuzma Foundation supplied necessities and toys to needy families throughout Greater Washington D.C.

NEW YORK – The NBA today announced Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award November winner for giving back to his hometown of Flint, Michigan and hosting a special event through his foundation (Kyle Kuzma Family Foundation).  Each month, the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award recognizes a player monthly for their outstanding work in the community.

Kuzma astonished mothers at the Genesee County Jail in Flint on November 26 by presenting them and their children with holiday gifts and clothing. Additionally, Kuzma revealed two newly refurbished jail cells, known as Kuz’s corner, as part of a broader initiative to improve the facility’s conditions.

During the event, Kuzma revealed a special partnership initiated by his foundation with I.G.N.I.T.E. and R.I.S.E. The collaboration aims to help residents of the facility have a successful re-entry into society. I.G.N.I.T.E., dedicated to breaking the cycle of generational incarceration through education, provides residents with crucial job training and skills for employment to decrease the chance of reoffending upon their release. Since its establishment in 2020, I.G.N.I.T.E. has supplied over 250,000 hours of educational training to over 2,500 residents, resulting in a 97% reduction of assaults and violent offenses in the jail. R.I.S.E., on the other hand, ensures that residents of the Genesee County Jail have access to behavioral and social health support services, thereby supplementing the work of I.G.N.I.T.E.

Kuzma, along with other members of Monumental Basketball (which includes the Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics, Capital City Go-Go, and Wizards District Gaming), partnered in November to host Thankful Meals, a community outreach event sponsored by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. The event aimed to serve residents of Ward 7 and Ward 8 in Washington D.C. During this event, Kuzma distributed more than 1,500 hot meals from Henry’s Soul Café, a Black-owned restaurant. Every attendee also received a gift card for GIANT food stores.

Kuzma stated, “It’s an honor to contribute to the upliftment of communities dear to me, and being acknowledged for this work is a humbling experience, especially during the giving season. I am honored to share this recognition with my family, support system, teammates, and the entire Wizards organization. We are all dedicated to making a positive impact on others’ lives.”

During the pre-game of the Dec. 29 Nets-Wizards match, Kuzma will be acknowledged in-arena as the winner of the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award. The award will be presented to him by Will Dawkins, the General Manager of the Washington Wizards.

The NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award honors Bob Lanier, an NBA League Office executive and NBA Cares Ambassador for more than 30 years.  He had an enormous influence on the NBA family and young people globally, traveling the world to teach the values of the game and making a positive impact through his kindness and generosity.  The legacy he built will continue to live on through the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award recognition, which honors the next generation of players’ commitment to positively impacting their community throughout the NBA season.  To learn more, please visit https://communityassist.nba.com/.