BOSTON — As the Celtics walked toward their tunnel at halftime Sunday afternoon, the crowd didn’t seem to know how to react. A few fans clapped. Most others stayed silent. Across the arena, nerves hid the postseason excitement that was so present earlier in the game.

According to an official release by the NBA, the recipient of the award receives the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trophy. The Social Justice Champion recognizes a current player pursuing social justice; a player who looks to drive equality for inidivduals and groups who have been "historically disadvantaged."