Kenneth Faried receiving the award in 2013. Faried, who was raised by two Lesbian mothers, is a champion of equality and removing homophobia in sports.
The J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award is an annual award given out to an NBA Player or Coach who shows outstanding work in his community. The winner is selected by the Professional Basketball Writers Association. Since it's inception in in 1975, there has been 34 recipients.
| YEAR | PLAYER(S) | TEAM(S) |
| 2014-15 | Joakim Noah | Chicago Bulls |
| 2013-14 | Luol Deng | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2012-13 | Kenneth Faried | Denver Nuggets |
| 2011-12 | Pau Gasol | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2010-11 | Ron Artest | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2009-10 | Samuel Dalembert | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2008-09 | Dikembe Mutombo | Houston Rockets |
| 2007-08 | Chauncey Billups | Detroit Pistons |
| 2006-07 | Steve Nash | Phoenix Suns |
| 2005-06 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2004-05 | Eric Snow | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2003-04 | Reggie Miller | Indiana Pacers |
| 2002-03 | David Robinson | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2001-02 | Alonzo Mourning | Miami Heat |
| 2000-01 | Dikembe Mutombo | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1999-00 | Vlade Divac | Sacramento Kings |
| 1998-99 | Brian Grant | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1997-98 | Steve Smith | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1996-97 | P.J. Brown | Miami Heat |
| 1995-96 | Chris Dudley | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1994-95 | Joe O'Toole | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1993-94 | Joe Dumars | Detroit Pistons |
| 1992-93 | Terry Porter | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1991-92 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1990-91 | Kevin Johnson | Phoenix Suns |
| 1989-90 | Doc Rivers | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1988-89 | Thurl Bailey | Utah Jazz |
| 1987-88 | Alex English | Denver Nuggets |
| 1986-87 | Isiah Thomas | Detroit Pistons |
| 1985-86 | Rory Sparrow, Michael Cooper | New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1984-85 | Dan Issel | Denver Nuggets |
| 1983-84 | Frank Layden | Utah Jazz |
| 1982-83 | Julius Erving | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1981-82 | Kent Benson | Detroit Pistons |
| 1980-81 | Mike Glenn | New York Knicks |
| 1979-80 | Austin Carr | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1978-79 | Calvin Murphy | Houston Rockets |
| 1977-78 | Bob Lanier | Detroit Pistons |
| 1976-77 | Dave Bing | Washington Bullets |
| 1975-76 | Slick Watts | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1974-75 | Wes Unseld | Washington Bullets |
