Suns G Devin Booker receives May’s NBA Cares Community Assist Award

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker was honored Monday with the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for the month of May.

The award was in recognition of Booker’s Starting Five initiative, which saw Arizona Autism United, Central Arizona Shelter Services, YMCA of Southern Arizona, GAP Ministries and Elevate Phoenix each receive a $100,000 grant from the guard to help for funding, improvements and other needs.

“From the beginning of my career, it has been important for me to be involved with the Suns organization and the community in Phoenix,” Booker said in a press release. “All five of these organizations better the lives of the youth by giving them opportunities they need to succeed.

“I want to thank the organizations for allowing me the opportunity to help advance all of the work they’re doing in our community.”

This year’s group marked the second class of Booker’s Starting Five.

Over a five-year period, Booker will give out five separate $100,000 grants each year to nonprofit organizations, for a grand total of $2.5 million.

Not only does Booker receive the monthly honor, Kaiser Permanente and the NBA are donating $10,000 on his behalf to Special Olympics of Arizona to support the basketball team representing Arizona at the 2022 USA Games, the league said.

Each month, the NBA recognizes a player “who best reflects the passion that the league and NBA players share for giving back to their communities.”

With the award, Booker is in the running for the Seasonlong NBA Cares Community Assist Award. The winner will be chosen from 10 players — offseason award winner, six monthly winners and three additional players.

The winner will be decided by an NBA executive panel and fan vote, which opens June 8 and runs through June 19. Fans can vote on Twitter and Jebbit.

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