“We appreciate Luka here in Dallas, and we appreciate how he represents Dallas worldwide,” Dallas Mavs CEO Cynt Marshall said. “One of the reasons I appreciate Luka is he truly loves our children. He’s a caring human being who gives his time, talent, and treasure. This is the spirit of the Dallas Mavericks.”

Dončić should be one of the frontrunners for the award based on his extraordinary community to children locally and globally through The Luka Dončić Foundation and Mavs Foundation.

The NBA Selection Committee’s decision will be based on how well a player has represented their community all season long. Three pillars comprise the voting criteria: creating strong partnerships that have an impact on local communities, ongoing community work, and impact on local communities.

Together with the other nine finalists, the 23-year-old Slovenian will now participate in a 12-day public voting period to determine the league’s most outstanding philanthropic player of the year.

Because winners have committed to a purpose far more important than simply the game, the NBA Cares Community Assist Award is thought to be one of the most sought-after accolades an NBA player can have.

For the first time ever, a Mavs player won the NBA Cares End of Season Community Assist Award when forward/center Dwight Powell of the Mavericks was selected as the winner during the 2019–20 campaign. Because of the special circumstances surrounding the pandemic and social justice reform at the end of 2020, Powell shared the award with four other players.

In the event that Dončić wins the season-long award, he will make Dallas Mavericks franchise history as the first solo winner.

“These children are going through so much,” Dončić said when reflecting on his passion for the community, especially these last few years. “I hope to give them a little bit of happiness, and I’m always thinking of them.”

The 2021-22 Seasonlong NBA Cares Community Assist Award (CAA) winner will receive a $75,000 donation to the charity of his choice, paying homage to the league’s 75th anniversary year.

Dončić is one of ten nominees for the award; the other finalists are Ricky Rubio, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brook Lopez, Robert Covington, Tobias Harris, Bismack Biyombo, and Trae Young.

Currently participating in his fourth NBA season, Dončić was chosen as a finalist for the 2021–22 Seasonlong NBA Cares Community Assist Award due to his outstanding community service and capacity to bring people together via basketball on a worldwide scale.

Despite being a global celebrity, Dončić has always maintained that children facing illness and other difficult situations should be given the attention and spotlight.

Dončić met 16-year-old Callum Stewart just two months prior to the Utah game on March 27, 2022.

In December 2021, Stewart received a diagnosis of an aggressive and rare brain tumour called anaplastic astrocytoma. In order to grant the Frisco teen’s wish of seeing the Mavericks play and getting to know them, the Make-A-Wish Foundation teamed up with the team.

“Luka is really nice and easygoing,” Stewart said. “I was nervous because he’s this celebrity, but then you meet him, and he’s very nice and quiet. I kind of like that. He has his mind on other people, and it’s not about how important he is. He’s just a nice guy and amazing player.”

Supporters can vote for Dončić on Jebbit, where they can see and pick videos that showcase his influence, or on Twitter by utilising #LukaDoncic or @luka7doncic along with the hashtag #NBACommunityAssist. On social media, fan voting for the prize will start today, May 3, and end on Saturday, May 14, at 10:59 p.m. CT.

Both public and NBA executive panel voting will decide the winner.