Gasol wins NBA Citizenship Award

Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol, who is active with UNICEF, was voted the winner of the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. Gasol has been a UNICEF ambassador for seven years and has traveled extensively in support of programs aimed at nutrition and education for children. The award honors an NBA player of coach for outstanding service and dedication to the community. It is determined through a vote by members of the Professional Basketball Writers Association. The NBA announced the vote's outcome Friday. Other finalists for the award this season were Atlanta's Josh Smith, Jason Terry of Dallas and Orlando's J.J. Redick. Gasol is the fourth member of the Lakers to receive the Citizenship Award. Michael Cooper won in 1986 and Magic Johnson took the 1992 honor. Metta World Peace was voted the award last season when he went by the name Ron Artest.