Westbrook, Thunder honored with NBA Cares award

NEW YORK (AP) – Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook has been named winner of the NBA Cares Community Assist Award.

The league announced the honor Tuesday.

After receiving a new car for being named the All-Star Game MVP, Westbrook donated the automobile to Kerstin Gonzalez, a single mother of two. During the 2014-15 season, Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation opened new reading centers in three Oklahoma City public schools. "Russell’s Reading Rooms" provide underserved children with 1,200 books. His yearlong charitable efforts also included hosting Thanksgiving meals, holiday parties and shopping sprees.

Kaiser Permanente and the NBA will donate $25,000 to Westbrook’s foundation.

The award was voted on by fans and an NBA panel of judges, including previous J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winners Bob Lanier and Dikembe Mutombo.