Since 1974, the award has been presented annually by the PBWA “to a player, coach or athletic trainer who demonstrates outstanding service and dedication to the community.”

Carmelo Anthony was named one of five finalists Wednesday for the 2017-18 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, presented by the Professional Basketball Writers Association.

Carmelo Anthony on being a finalist for the @ProHoopsWriters J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship award, says it’s motivation to keep his community work going, but he doesn’t do it for recognition: pic.twitter.com/1MFIjL58ms — Erik Horne (@ErikHorneOK) March 28, 2018

"Oh word?," he said. "I accept it.

“For people to recognize that, see that and acknowledge that, it means a lot to me. It’s a motivation to keep it going, but I think at the end of the day I do it because I love to do it, I love to give back, I love to kind of touch the people and feel the people. It’s good that people notice it even when you’re not doing it for the actual recognition. You’re doing it for the sake of the people and the communities that you actually help.”

Each NBA team has the opportunity to nominate someone for the award and describe the nominee’s off-court accomplishments since the end of last season.

Through his Puerto Rico Relief Fund, Anthony raised over $450,000, and the Carmelo Anthony Foundation delivered supplies and more than 100,000 pounds of food to Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria last summer. Anthony has also brought his charitable causes to Oklahoma City, as his foundation provided essentials to 800 Oklahoma families with a No Hunger Holiday event in November, and rewarded 250 middle-school students through his “A Very Melo Christmas” holiday initiative for writing essays on having a “Be Mere” attitude.